• 9 Ports: 2x USB-C, 3x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-II SD Card Reader, UHS-II MicroSD Card Reader
• Monitors: 1x 4K/60Hz via HDMI
• Passthrough power: 125W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

This 9-in-1 hub is bristling with top-end ports and—with an unrivaled 125W of laptop passthrough power—is a great match for larger laptops.

A seven-inch cable connects the hub to your MacBook at 10Gbps and a possible 125W passthrough charging when the hub is connected to a powerful enough USB-C charger—that’s the highest passthrough charging we’ve seen in a USB-C hub. Total power output from the hub to laptop and devices is 140W.

There’s one dedicated 10Gbps USB-C data port, HDMI 2.0 port with 4K 60Hz support, and both SD and MicroSD card readers at fast UHS-II media-transfer speeds. If you need to attach legacy devices there are two USB-A ports, also at 10Gbps. One of these can drive 7.5W of power to the connected device. There’s also a much slower 480Mbps USB 2.0 port that good for a memory stick or mouse/keyboard.

With its extra USB-A port and faster SD card readers, the 9-in-1 Plugable USB-C Hub beats our long-time USB-C hub champ, the Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub, reviewed below. If you prefer DisplayPort to HDMI the Anker 565 should be considered even with its slower card readers.

Plugable has recently released an even more capable version, the 10-port USBC-10IN1E, reviewed below. that is very similar to the 9-port hub but with 2.5Gb Ethernet and support for a single external display at up to 8K/30Hz, with the option of 4K/144Hz. Choose this model if you need the more pro-level ports, but it’s still a 10Gbps hub. Keep reading if you need a 40Gbps hub.

• 9 Ports: 4x Thunderbolt 5, 2x USB-C, 3x USB-A
• Monitors: Up to 4x 6K/60Hz (M5 Max); 2x 6K/60Hz (M4/M5, M1/M2/M3 Pro/Max)
• Passthrough power: 90W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 80Gbps

Thunderbolt is USB-C on steroids, and Thunderbolt 5 is the latest, fastest and most capable version. Only the most recent top-level Macs have Thunderbolt 5 but it’s backwards compatible all the way back to USB-C so even the MacBook Neo can use it although only at its own 10Gbps bandwidth. Thunderbolt 3 and 4 Macs will be pegged back to 40Gbps, but the CalDigit Element 5 Hub is easily the fastest hub we’ve tested.

Measuring just 4.5 x 2.75 x 1 inches (114 x 70 x 25mm) and weighing a mere 7oz (200g) this hub is dwarfed by the Thunderbolt docking stations but is still a match for them if you add a few inexpensive adapters such as an Ethernet adapter or card reader, for example.

It can connect up to dual 6K or 8K/60Hz extended displays on Macs with dual display support over its single Thunderbolt connection. On M5 Pro the Element 5 Hub can support up to three extended displays and on M5 Max it can support up to four extended displays.

More of a mini dock than a hub and priced much higher than the more standard USB-C hubs reviewed here, it’s the ultimate hub but may be overkill for your requirements.m

• 8 Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-I SD Card Reader, UHS-I MicroSD Card Reader
• Monitors: 1x 4K/60Hz via HDMI
• Passthrough power: 85W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

The Anker 555 USB-C 8-in-1 Hub is compact and powerful, offering greater specs than some of the other leading options on this list. It’s one of two similar USB-C hubs from the company, and we start with the best-value option.

The 555 offers two USB-C ports—one that supports 85W USB-C Power Delivery, while another supports data transfers up to 10Gbps. You also get speedy 10Gbps transfer rates through two additional USB-A ports, where many rivals max out at 5Gbps. 

The Anker 555 is special as it offers an HDMI port that supports 4K 60Hz resolutions, where most are limited to 4K 30Hz. For 4K 60Hz resolution, your device must support DP 1.4. This includes MacBook Neo, MacBook Air (from 2020), and MacBook Pro (from 2018) and iPad Pro (from 2018).

Also included are SD and MicroSD card reader slots. These are rated at UHS-I (104MBps) so not the fastest. If you transfer a lot of data via SD cards, look for a hub with faster UHS-II (312MBps).

The Gigabit Ethernet port is great for those times when Wi-Fi just won’t do.

It’s also incredibly light at just under 4.5oz (130g) and compact so you can take it anywhere. At $49.99 / £79.99 it’s hard to deny this hub’s value for money. In our experience, it does get warm with use but Anker says this is normal.

Anker

The higher-end $69.99 / £89.99 Anker 565 USB-C Hub, shown above, is as fast at 10Gbps plus offers eleven ports instead of the 555’s mere eight, and is equally lightweight at 4.8oz (136g). The extra ports are one USB-A and an audio jack, which isn’t a remarkable boost—but it does include a top-end DisplayPort 1.4 video connection as well as HDMI so offers greater video flexibility. If the inclusion of a native DisplayPort is important to you, then the 565 is a better solution (read our full Anker 565 11-in-1 USB-C Hub review) than maybe even the Plugable 9-in-1 reviewed above.

• 7 Ports: 1x USB-C PD, 2x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader
• Monitors: 1x 4K/60Hz via HDMI
• Passthrough power: 80W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

Uniquely round and magnetic with a coiled USB-C cable, the Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 calls itself a “Multiport Adapter” but it’s really a hub, boasting seven ports, alongside its integrated 10Gbps USB-C cable. None of the ports are at the very top-end pro level but they are capable enough for most users and with a 2.55-inch (6.5cm) diameter and weighing 2.4oz (68g) it is easily pocketable.

It will clamp to the back of an iPhone—iPhone 15 or later to take advantage of the USB-C—or any surface using the included magnetic 3M Adhesive Ring.

Satechi

The OnTheGo Multiport Adapter is available as a black 7-in-1 version and a 5-in-1 model that can be purchased in any of the four MacBook Neo colors (pictured above).

• 5 Ports: 1x USB-C, 4x USB-A
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

If all you need from an adapter is the ability to connect a bunch of legacy USB-A devices to your MacBook, this simple adapter should do the trick.

The Ugreen USB-C 4-port hub is a slim and inexpensive adapter that allows you to add four full-size USB 3.0 ports that can handle data transfer at up to 5Gbps. It has recently been upgraded to feature a further USB-C port that can supply a 10W charge for connected devices, but not the host computer. While all four ports can be used simultaneously, a maximum of two hard drives can be connected at one time.

It looks the part with most modern MacBooks, and is an easy way to connect memory sticks, a printer or other older devices that don’t come with USB-C. It is available with either a short 0.5-foot or 2-foot integrated cable.

• 1 Port: 1x USB-C to USB-A
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

There’s a misconception that USB-C is an inconvenience for people with a bunch of devices still reliant on legacy USB-A, hence the existence of little adapters like this one from Anker. Products like this are there to help us bridge the gap.

This cute little adapter is simply to allow you to plug in one standard USB-A device or cable at a time, great for using a USB stick, for example. Just don’t misplace it—it’s tiny. If you do lose it, don’t worry as this is sold in a two-pack!

• 8 Ports: 4x USB-C, 3x USB4, 1x USB-C passthrough charging
• Monitors: 2x 4K/60Hz (M4/M5, M1/M2/M3 Pro/Max)
• Passthrough power: 77W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

There are many USB-C hubs with more than one HDMI port but most are restricted to Mirrored Mode (where all external screens show the same image as on the MacBook) or in only partially Extended Mode (where the external displays show a different image to the MacBook but are the same themselves). That’s a Mac limitation only, not the fault of the hubs themselves, which work fine for Windows. Blame Apple.

The EZQuest 8-in-1 Hub is built on Intel’s JHL8140 USB4 chipset that makes a hub-based two-display setup a plug-and-play solution for Mac users. You can connect an 8K monitor at 30Hz or two 4K displays at 60Hz—with no need to install third-party software.

The Satechi Pro Hub Max Adapter, reviewed below, can also support two displays natively but uses two of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports to achieve this. The EZQuest is the only single USB-C connection to do this without DisplayLink.

One non-data USB-C port supplies up to 100W to the hub, which distributes it as 77W to the connected laptop and 23W shared between the ports. Other hubs reviewed here offer greater passthrough to your MacBook but 77W should be enough to keep even the MacBook Pro humming while you work.

Even using two of the USB4 ports for displays, the hub has five more 10Gbps data ports spare to connect other devices. That’s the same as you get from EZQuest’s Slim Gen 2 Hub Adapter 6-in-1 (5x 10Gbps USB-C and one PD), which is reviewed below. If you require just one 4K/60Hz display and a bunch of fast USB-C ports this $79 hub might be all you need, but if two displays is in your dreams, go for the 8-in-1.

Base-level M1 and M2 Macs plus the MacBook Neo are sadly hampered by a single-screen limitation. The EZQuest 8-in-1 Hub can’t help these users, who will need to install special DisplayLink or InstantView drivers to support more than one external display; see the Plugable HDMI Adapters reviewed below.

• 5 Ports: 4x HDMI, 1x USB-C passthrough charging
• Monitors: Up to 4x 4K/60Hz using DisplayLink software
• Passthrough power: 100W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

Using DisplayLink software—a simple download—the Plugable USB-C Quad 4K HDMI Adapter (USBC-7400H) can support four 4K external displays, all showing a different image to the MacBook and each other—so full Extended Mode, and even on lowly M1/M2 Macs. It also features 100W passthrough USB-C charging. See below this list of hub recommendations for a graphic showing the differences between Mirrored and Extended Modes on the Mac.

Plugable

If you need only two external displays in full Extended Mode, the $89.95 / £109.95 Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI Adapter (USBC-6950M) shown above features two HDMI ports but no passthrough charging.

• 7 Ports: 1x USB4, 1x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader
• Monitors: 1x 6K/60Hz via USB4 and 1x 4K/60Hz via HDMI
• Passthrough power: 100W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 40Gbps

All of the portable USB-C hubs reviewed here are compatible with the Mac’s Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 ports, but most feature slower USB-C connections (5Gbps or 10Gbps) compared to Thunderbolt (40Gbps for TB3 and TB4, and 80Gbps with TB5).

The $79.99 Pro Hub Slim, available in either Silver, Space Gray or Midnight, requires a MacBook with two adjacent Thunderbolt ports on one side, but offers 40Gbps bandwidth via its USB4 port. You can connect a 6K/60Hz display using this port, plus a 4K/60Hz display using the HDMI port.

That same port allows for 96W of passthrough charging, and there’s a separate 10Gbps USB-C port plus two 10Gbps USB-A and UHS-I card readers.

• 5 Ports: 1x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, Audio jack
• Monitors: 1x 6K/60Hz via USB=C
• Passthrough power: 100W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 40Gbps

While not certified as either USB4 or Thunderbolt 4, this compact and very portable 5-in-1 USB-C hub (AMS-5IN1E) offers 40Gbps data-transfer via its USB-C port, and is designed for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros introduced after 2021, or MacBook Airs introduced after 2022. A smart cutout keeps access to those MacBooks’ MagSafe charger port.

The inclusion of the 40Gbps USB-C port is useful as the hub uses the two Thunderbolt or USB4 ports in its flush side connection to the MacBook. But, in return, it gives you two 5Gbps USB-A ports (4.5W charging) and Gigabit Ethernet. The audio jack port is also covered but replicated on the hub.

The 40Gbps USB-C port can be used to connect a display up to 6K at 60Hz, or offer passthrough charging at up to 100W.

• 10 Ports: 2x USB-C, 3x USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 2.5Gb Ethernet, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader, Audio Jack, 125W laptop charging
• Monitors: 1x 8K/30Hz or 4K/144Hs via HDMI
• Passthrough power: 125W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

This is the pro-level version of the 9-port Plugable USBC-9IN1E that we awarded Best Overall USB-C Hub to; see review above. It has the same 10Gbps data-transfer speed and impressive 125W passthrough MacBook charging, but with faster Ethernet (2.5GbE vs 1GbE) and support for either an 8K/30Hz or 4K/144Hz display.

Unless you need multiple external displays or 40Gbps bandwidth, this hub should offer everything you need for a pro setup in a portable form.

The 8K display support is great and the 144Hz 4K refresh rate option will please video professionals and gamers alike.

2.5Gb Ethernet will help future-proof your system, unless you are looking to 10GbE.

• 8 Ports: 5x USB-C, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader
• Monitors: 1x 4K/60Hz via HDMI
• Passthrough power: 85W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

This USB-C hub has four USB-C ports but no USB-A. If you no longer have need for old-time USB-A by buying this hub you won’t be wasting money on a port you don’t require. If you have USB-A peripherals, such as an older memory stick, then you should look for a hub with a Type-A USB port.

Three of the USB-C ports offer fast 10Gbps data transfer, and one at 5Gbps. A fifth USB-C port is for attaching a power source, most likely a USB-C wall charger. If the charger is rated at 100W, all that power can be distributed via the hub, including up to 85W PD to the host laptop or tablet. However, aside from the pass-through PD port, none of the USB ports can output power to connected devices.

The EZQuest USB-C Slim Gen 2 Hub Adapter 6-in-1, reviewed here lower down, has four 10Gbps USB-C ports, each with 7.5W device charging, plus two more for 4K/60Hz monitor support and 80W passthrough charging, but it lacks the Ethernet and card reader.

And the SD card reader is also top-notch at 312MBps, compared to some that are UHS-I at 104MBps.

Despite the 8K in its name, the HDMI 2.1 port can support only as high a resolution as an external 4K display at 60Hz refresh rate, as well as display options of 2K/144Hz and 1080p/240Hz. Apple display limitations mean that its potential 8K/30Hz display support is limited to Windows machines.

It’s at the high end for price but you get high-end, premium and future-proof ports for your money.

It is available in Apple MacBook-matching Space Gray, Silver, and Midnight colors.

1 Port: 5Gb Ethernet
USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

For even faster speeds when connected to a supporting network, this one-function adapter adds an inexpensive route to 5Gbps Ethernet. It’s simple yet effective if you need more ports, you’ll pay more for such fast network speeds.

It’s backwards compatible with 1Gb and 2.5Gb networks, so is more future proof than a 2.5Gb adapter if you are always after the fastest data transfers.

The cable is short at 4.7 inches (12cm) but you shouldn’t need any longer for a network adapter.

If you want fast Ethernet but more ports, check out some of the Satechi hubs also reviewed here. Plugable also offers a USB-C to 2.5GbE Adapter, listed lower down this list.

• 6 Ports: 6x USB-C
• Monitors: 1x 4K/60Hz via USB-C
• Passthrough power: 80W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

This USB-C hub loves USB-C so much that it boasts only that type of port, of which there are six—seven if you count the connector that links to the laptop.

Four of these are rated at 10Gbps for data transfer, which is about as fast as you can get before you have to switch up to 40Gbps Thunderbolt as 20GBps USB-C hubs are rare.

Another can link up to an external display up to 4K in resolution and at a action-screen-friendly 60Hz refresh rate. You can either connect direct to a USB-C monitor, or use a USB-C to either DisplayPort or HDMI adapter.

The sixth USB-C port can handle 100W of PD 3.0 power input, 80W of which is reserved for the MacBook if it needs that much. Each of the 10Gbps ports can deliver 7.5W, up to a maximum 15W across all four at the same time.

If you require two 4K/60Hz displays and a bunch of fast USB-C ports, consider the EZQuest USB 4 Dual Display 8-in-1 Hub (Pro Series) reviewed above.

• 4 Ports: 2.5Gb Ethernet, 3x USB-C
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

There are hubs with more ports but this 4-in-1 USB-C hub offers three fast 10Gbps USB-C ports and very fast 2.5Gb Ethernet.

The Satechi USB-C Multiport Adapter 8K With Ethernet V3, reviewed above, boasts more functionality but at twice the price and with standard 1Gb Ethernet. The Satechi 4-port USB-C Hub, reviewed below, offers an extra USB-C port but none at 10Gbps, and no 2.5Gb Ethernet.

This hub could be in your sweet spot if you need a bunch of fast USB ports and faster Ethernet. There’s no passthrough charging, so you’ll need a spare Thunderbolt port on your MacBook for power.

• 6 or 10 Ports: 6x or 10x USB-C charging ports
• Passthrough power: 100W
• USB-C speed to Mac: n/a

This multi-port hub is not for data transfer but is the best for charging multiple USB-C devices up to 100W utilizing clever priority-charging technology that distributes power across all connected devices—prioritized in the order you choose from left to right. As devices reach full charge, the now greater available power is reallocated down the line.

The $79.99 Plugable PS-6CC and $119.99 Plugable PS-10CC can neatly and efficiently charge up to 6 or 10 hungry devices at the same time and at an optimum power distribution without you having to resort to multiple chargers and a desk full of indistinguishable snaking cables.

• 4 Ports: 4x USB-C
• Passthrough power: 75W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

Sick of hubs that still think USB-A is a thing? If what you want is more USB-C ports, the Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub With Power Delivery has plenty for you. Each port is USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 so 10Gbps, which has recently been upgraded from 5Gbps. Also upgraded is the PD Power Delivery via the USB-C ports for passthrough charging.

You can save a few bucks by buying the 5Gbps non-PD version but this new model is superior and well worth the few extra dollars.

• 7 Ports: 2x USB-C, 5x USB-A
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

If it’s just USB ports you need to add, then you find more than enough on Startech.com’s 7-Port USB-C Hub, although we’d have preferred more USB-C ports, which here are outnumbered by legacy USB-A.

There are five USB-A ports, all rated at a speedy 10Gbps, with one offering 12W of device-charging power. One of the two 10Gbps USB-C ports can also charge connected devices at 12W. The other USB ports each offer a small charge of 4.5W.

Even 12W is not powerful enough to fast charge an iPhone but it’s enough to keep most connected devices powered up.

The hub is self-powered via its 65W power supply.

• 10 Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, 2x HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader, Audio jack
• Monitors: 1x 4K/60Hz and 1x 4K/30Hz using DisplayLink software
• Passthrough power: 100W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

This hub has enough different ports to call itself a docking station. It has two HDMI ports, two USB-C ports (one PD and one 5Gbps), SD/microSD/SD readers (UHS-I), two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio combo jack for headphones, and Gigabit Ethernet.

It doesn’t have its own power supply but offers passthrough PD charging at a more than healthy 100W.

It’s a great set of ports, but that’s not it’s biggest plus for users of Apple’s plain M1/M2/M3/Neo-based MacBooks, which don’t support more than one external display. The plain M3 MacBooks can connect two displays but only if the MacBook’s lid remains closed. The smarter M4/M5 and M1/M2/M3/M4/M5 Pro and Max chips do support multiple displays.

If that is a problem for you there is a hardware solution in the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub, which lets non-Pro/Max Macs connect two external displays. There is some light software installation involved for M1/M2/M3 users, and you need to allow InstantView access to your Privacy settings in System Preferences. There are alternative solutions for adding two or more monitors to an M1, M2, M3 MacBook.

One HDMI port allows for 4K at 60Hz, and the other 4K at 30Hz. If you want two or more 4K screens at 60Hz and are willing to do without the extra USB ports and so on, look at the Plugable Quad and Dual 4K HMDI adapters reviewed earlier in this article. These are cheaper and offer superior display specs.

• 1 Port: 1x USB-C, 2.5Gb Ethernet
• Passthrough power: 100W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

If all you need is a USB-C adapter that will add super-fast Ethernet to your computer, the Plugable USB-C to 2.5Gb Ethernet Adapter offers 2.5x network speeds compared to standard Gigabit Ethernet on supporting networks. A side USB-C port offers 100W passthrough charging to the laptop.

The short cable isn’t braided like the £39.95 Satechi USB-C 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter but the adapter is cheaper and just as able.

U.K. customers may find the Ugreen USB-C to Ethernet Adapter 2.5G cheaper, although it lacks the laptop passthrough charging.

• 3 Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x HDMI
• Monitors: 1x 4K/30Hz avia HDMI
• Passthrough power: 100W
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

Apple got a lot of flack when moving to USB-C because it meant that many of its users had to buy one or more adapters to replicate the ports they were used to, and needed.

It wasn’t so much that we needed adapters, but more to do with the price Apple was charging for its simple USB-C hubs and adapters.

Take, for example Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, which at $69 is a lot for just an HDMI port, one USB-A port and a passthrough-power USB-C port.

Plugable has a much cheaper alternative, at about a third of the price. And it looks pretty identical.

Aside from the price, the one drawback shared with the Apple version is that the HDMI connection can connect a 4K external display at 30Hz rather than the full 60Hz, which may put off gamers. But otherwise, this is a great alternative at a fraction of the price, and can charge at 60W.

• 4 Ports: 3x USB-A, SD Card Reader
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

We tend to think of hubs for laptops, such as Apple’s MacBooks, which lack more than one or two USB-C ports and so require a dock to add further devices. The Mac Mini and Mac Studio, you’d think, have an army of ports in comparison to Apple’s laptops.

Apple’s latest M4 Mac mini does at least add a couple of USB-C ports and an audio jack at the front—sadly lacking for its earlier M1 and M2 Mac mini models, see below—but it doesn’t have any legacy USB-A ports or card readers.

The Satechi Stand & Hub for the M4 Mac mini adds three USB-A ports—two at 10Gbps and one at 480Mbps—at the front, plus an SD card reader. Inside the Hub is an enclosure that enables you to add an NVMe SSD at up to 4TB NVMe storage—so adding more hidden storage at prices much cheaper than offered by Apple at purchase.

It fits neatly under the mini and, in our tests, didn’t suffer the same Wi-Fi problems as its M1/M2 sibling, although it has three fewer ports.

• 7 Ports: 1x USB-C, 3x USB-A, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader, Audio jack
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

Before Apple miniaturized the Mac mini even further in 2024, the 2018-2023 Mac mini models boasted two Thunderbolt 3 / USB4 (fast USB-C) ports, two old-school USB-A ports, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and 3.5mm headphone jack. That sounds like a lot, but Apple accessory specialist Satechi believes the Mini needs maxing.

Satechi’s Type-C Aluminum Stand & Hub for Mac Mini expands these capabilities with seven ports: including a USB-C data port, three USB-A ports, micro/SD card readers, and another 3.5mm headphone jack port. (Note that you can’t charge devices connected to the USB ports, as they are there for syncing and data transfer only.)

The crucial point is that these points are front-facing, and not tucked around the back with the unwieldy and unsightly power supply. It also lifts the Mini off the desk, and its built-in air vents help regulate temperature and encourage airflow.

There is a superior model, the 10Gbps Satechi Stand & Hub For Mac Mini / Studio With NVMe SSD Enclosure, which includes an integrated slot where you can insert an SSD card to add affordable fast storage, accessible when connected to your Mac mini or Mac Studio. Read our Satechi Stand & Hub With SSD Enclosure review.

Both of the Satechi M1/M2 Mac mini Stand Hubs, however, can have a negative impact on the mini’s Wi-Fi signal strength, so it’s recommended to use the wired Ethernet option instead.

• 6 Ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x HDMI, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader
• Monitors: 1x 4K/60Hz via HDMI
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

You might not think a desktop Mac needs a hub, but the 24in iMac is quite lacking, having either just two Thunderbolt ports on the entry-level model or two Thunderbolt and two USB-C at the top-end. These ports are also all hidden away at the back, which can mean snaking cables all over your desk.

Five of the ports on this hub that clamps to the underside of the iMac are front-facing ports for easy access to memory cards, USB storage, or storage cards. There are two USB-C ports and one USB-A port (all rated at a speedy 10GBps). The USB-A port can charge a phone at 7.5W.

The UHS-I (104MBps) SD and microSD card readers aren’t the fastest but should suffice. Such memory cards are an affordable way of adding portable storage, and will also delight camera users.

At the rear of the hub is an HDMI port that can support an external 4K display at 60Hz.

Hyper also sells a 5-in-1 iMac USB Hub with two USB-C (5Gbps) and three USB-A (5Gbps and one that charges at 7.5W).

Quite brilliantly, the hubs can color-match with your 24in iMac, with 7 iMac color faceplates included.

• 6 Ports: 1x USB-C, 3x USB-A, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

While not as colorful as the HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Hub, this USB-C hub for the 24-inch iMac offers a set of basic ports slung under the iMac screen at a slightly lower price.

It brings four USB ports within easy arm’s reach, so you don’t need to fiddle around at the back of the computer.

It lacks the HyperDrive’s HDMI port but gains an extra USB-A port, although at a slow 480Mbps and with little charging power.

• 2 Ports: SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

Apple’s current MacBook Pro models have an SDXC card slot that is great for adding affordable portable storage cards but is mid-speed at 250MBps rather than the format’s top 312MBps. SD cards are a very inexpensive way to add portable storage to your laptop, from 32GB up to 1TB, as well as being the digital photographer’s friend.

Ugreen’s neat SD card reader is top-speed and features slots for both SD and MicroSD cards. It features a decent-length (220mm) USB-C cable so that it doesn’t impede other ports on your MacBook.

• 2 Ports: HDMI, VGA
• Monitors: 1x 4K/30Hz via HDMI and 1x HD/60Hz via VGA
• USB-C speed to Mac: 10Gbps

This simple adapter makes a USB-C port into a VGA port for older displays and projectors, and also can handle two external displays.

VGA was once the most popular video connector but is seen less these days, being overtaken by DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort and direct USB-C.

It supports HD at 60Hz resolutions via VGA, and 4K at 30Hz through its HDMI port. It isn’t compatible with supporting two displays on an M1/M2/Neo MacBook.

• 1 Port: DVI
• Monitors: 1x HD/60Hz via DVI
• USB-C speed to Mac: 5Gbps

If you need to connect to a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) display or projector, this adapter does the trick. 

It can support resolutions up to 1,920-x-1,080 at 60Hz.

• 1 Port: Thunderbolt 2
• USB-C speed to Mac: 20Gbps

This adapter is designed to help owners of really quite old Macs smoothly transition to using USB-C. You may well have devices such as hard drives and external displays that use Thunderbolt 2 connections. This little gadget lets you keep using them with your MacBook or new MacBook Pro.

It also allows new Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 devices to connect to a Mac with Thunderbolt 2 ports–but to take advantage of it this way round Apple advises you need to be running macOS Sierra or above.

There are cheaper alternatives, but this is the classic AirTag key ring—replacing the previous Apple Leather Key Ring, now that Apple has gone fully vegan in honor of its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs. It’s light, attractive and reassuringly well-made. It’s easy to put the AirTag inside, but the metal popper won’t let it escape. And we love the large, chunky (but quite flat) ring, although we’d recommend testing it out in a shop if you’re planning on attaching car keys with a small aperture. This reviewer’s Nissan and Skoda keys were both a tight fit.

The fabric covering protects the AirTag’s edge from drop damage but leaves most of its chassis, both front and back, open to the elements and liable to scuff a little—a complaint publicly made about Apple’s FineWoven iPhone cases. We think this is worth it for the pleasing look, and scuffing is both inevitable and minor, but if you want total protection you’ll need to look elsewhere.

It’s available from Apple in five colors, shown above: Moss, Fox Orange, Midnight Purple, Navy and Black. Amazon still has some of the older colors if you prefer, including Black, Pacific Blue, Navy, Coral, Mulberry and Chartreuse.–David Price

OtterBox is a company known for its ultra-protective phone cases, and its Rugged Case for AirTag continues this tradition, as its name suggests. The protective perimeter is increased to allow for larger bumps and mishaps than most AirTag key rings.

Apple sells a four-pack for $39.95.

OtterBox also has a Rugged Passport Series of the Rugged Case that is styled with the coordinates of iconic cities, such as New York, London, Paris and Tokyo.–Simon Jary

Available in black and white, the Nomad Rugged Keychain is built with a polycarbonate frame and TPU overmold, and ships with two enclosure options: a closed back option and an open speaker option. It is rated IP66 for water and dust resistance.

With a Rustic Brown option, the Nomad Leather Keychain carries your AirTag in a good-looking, thermoformed, American Horween Leather holder. Over time, the raw, vegetable-tanned leather will patina to create a unique lived-in look.

Adding a third available Natural (tan) color, the Nomad Leather Loop for AirTag is a Horween leather loop that attaches to your AirTag with a powerful 3M adhesive. The AirTag battery, however, remains easily accessible for replacement.–Simon Jary

This minimalist AirTag keychain accessory doesn’t conceal your Apple tracker in a case. Machined from a single block of 6063-T6 aerospace-grade aluminum this open metal cradle wraps your AirTag in an organic form without hiding it. This allows for a stronger signal with no obstruction of its sound alert.

Installation is easy, while the secure hold remains reliable even with daily use.–Simon Jary

Elevation Lab’s TagVault: Keychain claims that it is fully waterproof. This rugged case has a gasket that prevents water intrusion while passing through ultra-wideband and Bluetooth signals and allowing about two-thirds of the AirTag’s sound volume. It has an integral loop for a keychain ring and comes with a simple but robust one.–Glenn Fleishman

How about a properly rugged key ring accessory for your AirTag? The Caseology Vault is made from military-grade thermoplastic polyurethane, with a nicely grippy sandstone finish that makes it less prone to drops.

Like the Olixar Silicone it features a karabiner attachment. This is removable, which makes the Vault a versatile accessory. It’s just as happy tracking rucksacks as keys.–David Price

Although it now looks to be discontinued you can still find Apple’s fine AirTag Loop on sale. It is made of polyurethane and feels and looks smart, with two of the color options (Electric Orange and Sunflower) particularly bright and cheerful. This will also help you to spot your suitcase on the conveyor belt.

The AirTag clips in using a metal clasp that’s easy to use and secure; you then put the strap around your luggage’s handle and loop the head part back through the slit in the tail. It looks slightly delicate at first glance–the strap gets quite thin at a certain point–but proved resistant to moderate tugging and should be fine under non-military usage conditions. Like Apple’s key ring, it protects the edges of the AirTag but not the center of its two faces, so expect some scuffing.–David Price

Belkin’s Secure Holder is available with a simple skinny rope or with a more robust tough wire cable. As with Apple’s key ring, both faces of the AirTag are left exposed, but the plastic surround sticks out more and thus provides more drop protection. Attach either to your favorite gear, from a water bottle to your laptop bag or backpack.

One model, with Strap, has a robust string for attaching it to the handle of a suitcase or bag. Like the strap-style loops provided by other manufacturers this threads back through itself to easily attach to your luggage. The other Wire Cable version is reassuringly robust, and looks tough with its wire cable that includes a hex key to lock the AirTag in place.

While the cable version is in black or white, the strap model is available in a range of additional colors, including blue and pink, white.–Simon Jary

The principal appeal of Casetify’s AirTag holder is the sheer range of designs and colors you can choose from. The ones pictured are, from left, Colorful Floral in Turquoise and Pink (with Peach background); Flowers for you by Matthew Langille (with Licorice); and Egg Tart with Mice (with Avocado). That last one is our favorite, but there are hundreds of options.–David Price

This traditional-looking bifold wallet includes a front-mounted pocket for an Apple AirTag, and then does the usual wallet business with 13 card slots, two cash pockets and two ID windows. It also claims to include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking to stop device scanning.

This slim, stylish and minimalist hand-stained, vegetable-tanned leather card case comprises of a surprising seven small pockets to store your cards and cash, with a snap-close AirTag pocket on the front so you be able to loate it when it’s left in another jacket or trouser pocket—or left behind on the bar.

Two or three of the pockets can be sued for bank notes or business cards, three are definitely for creadit or other types of card, and there’s a clear ID card window on the side opposite the AirTag.

It’s available in three colours: Saddle (tan), Dark Brown and Black.

Customers outside the U.S. will encounter quite stiff customs and shipping charges.

This super-lightweight card wallet from Italy nicely nestles an AirTag in a selection of attractive and fun colors. It feels a little plasticky but is in fact made from sustainable, recyclable plant-based materials—there’s not even any glue introduced into the manufacturing process.

You can buy with the AirTag preinstalled, or fit in your own. The Bazza AirTag Card Wallet is available in pink, yellow, red, dark blue, light blue, white, black and green.

The TagVault: Pet uses screws with the small Torx T6 star-shaped drive for the portion that contains the AirTag and maintains the waterproof seal. These screws are piercing, self-tapping screws with a T10 slot. They’re used to hold a hard plastic anchor to provide further stability when attached to a pet collar that you provide–though the case may be too big for smaller collars. The kit includes a steel Torx T6 L-shaped wrench with screw tips on both ends.–Glenn Fleishman

Designed to hold an AirTag firmly in place in a wallet, it comes in two form factors: standard, 3.25 by 1.5 inches (83 by 38 mm), and compact, 2 by 1.5 inches (51 by 38 mm). Both are 0.05 inches (1.3 mm) thick. The more rectangular style works well in billfold slots; the squarer design in other parts of a wallet. With the AirTag exposed front and back, there’s no additional blocking beyond your wallet to block wireless signals for tracking and Precision Finding.–Glenn Fleishman

The KeyBudz Covert Mount for AirTag is made of rugged fiberglass reinforced copolymer and built to withstand submersion in water and extreme temperatures with IP68 waterproof and dustproof protection. Clamp it onto just about anything—from your bike, vehicles, camera gear, suitcases, construction equipment and trailers. Tamper-proof, it can form continuous bond with surfaces while submerged underwater for over 60 days and is nearly impossible to remove once placed.

If you’re looking for an AirTag mount that can stick to almost any surface and allows for easy AirTag removal, the Pelican Protector fits the bill. It’s not discreet, it’s not rugged, and it doesn’t offer additional water protection, but as a mount, it works well. Pelican relies on 3M VHB adhesive for attachment, which creates a near-permanent mount that becomes stronger over time.—Glenn Fleishman

The TagVault: Bike is a lozenged-shaped plastic shell that houses the AirTag AirTag nestles inside its waterproof seal. It attaches to a bike via the bike’s water bottle mount, using longer screws to attach the bottle cage, or shorter screws if you don’t attach the cage. The case is a matte black, rendering it unobtrusive. Screwed in between a cage and the frame, a thief would first have to recognize it and then work hard to remove it quickly.–Glenn Fleishman

If you already own n insulated bottle and its a HydroFlask, there’s another solution. Hydro Flask water bottles are popular but also surprisingly easy to leave behind after a run, bike ride, or visit to the park. The Nomad Hydro Flask Tracker is a hidden inner AirTag compartment in a slim TPU body that fits between your Hydro Flask and the Medium Flex Boot (accessory sold separately) and features It works with 32oz or 40oz Wide Mouth Hydro Flasks.

Also available as a 4-Pack at Apple or Amazon.

More than 25 years after the original game first appeared on Mac, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has finally arrived as a native macOS release thanks to Feral Interactive. While it has taken an extraordinarily long time to get here, the wait has been worthwhile. This remastered version updates one of the greatest real-time strategy (RTS) games ever made with sharper high-resolution graphics, bundled expansion content and Apple Silicon support, making it feel at home on modern Macs.

The game spans roughly a thousand years of history, from the Dark Ages through the Medieval era, allowing players to command dozens of civilizations in campaigns inspired by real historical figures such as Joan of Arc, Attila the Hun and Vlad Dracula. The Definitive Edition includes the original game alongside three DLC expansions, dramatically increasing the amount of content with additional civilizations, maps and historical campaigns. Combined with skirmishes and replayable scenarios, there are hundreds of hours of strategy gameplay available.

Gameplay remains as compelling as ever. Players must gather resources, expand settlements, research technologies and build armies while responding to enemy attacks in real time. Although experienced strategy fans will quickly feel at home, the game also includes excellent tutorials that teach both basic mechanics and more advanced tactical concepts, making it approachable for newcomers.

The Mac version does have a few drawbacks. It only supports Apple Silicon Macs, leaving older Intel machines behind. Multiplayer is also restricted to Mac users, so there is no cross-platform play with Windows players. In addition, the interface occasionally shows its age, and the game does a poor job of explaining that the enhanced graphics pack requires a separate free download after installation.

Fortunately, these issues do little to diminish what is still one of the finest RTS games ever created. The updated visuals preserve the charm of the original while making battles look crisp on modern displays, and the sheer volume of campaigns and historical scenarios provides outstanding value for money.

For Mac owners who enjoy strategy games, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is an easy recommendation. It successfully modernises a timeless classic without losing the gameplay that made it legendary, proving that great strategy games never go out of style.

Total War: Attila was originally launched for Intel Macs and PCs way back in 2015 – when the macOS was still called OS X. Needless to say, changes to both Apple’s hardware and operating systems meant that the Mac version fell by the wayside several years ago, but Feral Interactive has now brought the game back to the Mac, providing native support for current Apple Silicon Macs, and Apple’s Metal graphics system (although it no longer runs on Intel Macs anymore, unfortunately). At the moment, the game is currently only available on Steam – and requires macOS 15.7 or later to run – although Feral tells us that it will be released on the Mac App Store later this year.
 
Following on from last year’s Total War: Rome, the action this time around moves forward to 370AD as the now faltering Roman Empire has split into two rival factions and finds itself under attack on all fronts. There’s a prologue section that begins with the Battle Of Olbia, which acts as a tutorial for new players as well as setting the historical context for the campaign ahead of you. When you’re ready, you can begin the main campaign by taking control of any of the various factions within the game. You can command the Eastern Roman Empire, the Saxons of the Barbarian Kingdoms, or the Sassanids of the Persian Eastern Empire. But, of course, the star of the show is Jason Momoa – aka the beardy warlord Attila, who leads the fearsome hordes of the Hun.
 
In previous Total War games you had to build up your forces by methodically gathering resources, such as wood, stone and gold, which then allowed you to train your troops and develop new weapons. However, the Hun tribes are nomadic, so instead of settling in a specific region and quietly developing towns and cities, the Huns charge across Europe on horseback, raiding the lands of their enemies to gain wealth and resources. This makes for a more dynamic playing style where you can throw caution to the winds and unleash the Huns to swarm across Europe, wreaking havoc left, right and center. You can hit the ground running and start raiding and pillaging right from the start of the campaign, giving Total War: Attila a more ‘invade first, ask questions later’ style of play than other games in the series.
 
The age of the game also means that you don’t need a high-end Mac to run it properly. We had no problems running it on a MacBook Pro with an M2 processor, and the game’s graphics settings provide presets that are suitable for a wide range of Mac models. Once the main campaign is complete you can buy a number of expansion packs that extend the campaign further, or test yourself by recreating a number of great historical battles or setting up your own custom battles against computer-controlled opponents. There’s an online multiplayer mode as well although – as with many Mac games – you are limited to playing only with other Mac players.

Slay the Spire 2 is a confident sequel that builds on one of the most successful deck-building games available on Mac. Rather than dramatically changing the formula, developer Mega Crit focuses on refining what made the original so addictive, introducing a host of small improvements, more content and a new cooperative multiplayer mode. The result is a game that feels familiar but remains fresh enough to justify the sequel.

The core gameplay remains unchanged. Players battle their way up a mysterious spire by choosing different routes through a map of rooms, fighting monsters, collecting new cards and relics, and making strategic decisions about how to strengthen their deck. As a roguelike, every defeat sends you back to the beginning, encouraging experimentation and rewarding players who learn how different cards and abilities work together. The game remains easy to pick up but offers plenty of depth for players willing to master its systems.

While the sequel doesn’t reinvent the experience, it adds considerably more variety. Returning characters are joined by two new classes, the Necrobinder and the Regent, each bringing fresh abilities and play styles. There are more skills, relics and rare cards to discover, along with new quests and encounters that encourage players to rethink their route through each run. Daily challenges and custom game modes also return, while the headline new feature is a co-op mode for up to four players, allowing friends to tackle the Spire together for the first time.

Our main criticism is the presentation. Although the 2D graphics have been improved, the visuals remain fairly basic, lacking the atmosphere and visual flair found in some rival games. However, those simple graphics also help the game run smoothly on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, making it accessible to a wide range of hardware.

Overall, Slay the Spire 2 is an excellent sequel. It may not introduce many major new ideas, but its numerous refinements, additional content and enjoyable co-op mode make it a must-have for fans of the original. Newcomers, however, may want to start with the first game before moving on to the sequel.

Why we loved Blue Prince: Blue Prince is one of the most inventive puzzle-adventure games in years, blending roguelike mechanics with atmospheric mystery in a way that feels both fresh and deeply satisfying. Its constantly shifting mansion keeps you thinking strategically and creatively, while its layered secrets reward curiosity.

Blue Prince is an indie puzzle-adventure that updates the feel of classic exploration games with slick 3D visuals and a mystery-driven structure that’s perfect for Mac players. In the game you’re Simon P. Jones, heir to the mysterious Mt. Holly mansion, and your only path to inheriting the estate is to locate the elusive “Room 46.” To do that you explore a sprawling 45-room mansion where the layout changes every in-game day, forcing you to rethink your approach constantly.

As you wander from room to room, you choose which spaces to open next, building out your blueprint while managing a limited number of steps. Some rooms contain useful items that grant extra movement, while others offer clues tied to deeper mysteries hidden in the mansion. Because the mansion resets each night, planning ahead and taking careful notes becomes a strategic part of the experience, giving the game the feel of a mystery you’re slowly unraveling over many sessions.

Visually, Blue Prince blends hand-drawn charm with true 3D exploration, creating a warm but curious atmosphere that suits its puzzle focus. The pacing is unhurried; it favors thoughtful investigation over action, so it’s well suited to fans of cerebral, methodical games rather than fast-paced thrills.

Overall, Blue Prince will likely appeal most to players who enjoy deep mystery, clever puzzles, and the satisfaction of piece-by-piece discovery. Its blend of adventure, strategy, and roguelike resets makes it an engaging experience for curious players on macOS.

Why we loved Cyberpunk 2077: Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultimate Edition) nailed the comeback. The vast, neon-soaked world of Night City offers deep freedom, compelling characters and quests, and slick futuristic visuals. After many patches (and expansion Phantom Liberty), it plays smoothly even on Macs – making the once-troubled RPG feel “alive” and worth exploring.

Cyberpunk 2077, despite its troubled 2020 launch, sold more than 30 million copies. Now CD Projekt Red has made Cyberpunk: 2077 available for the Mac—on the App Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store.

The game is set in the Blade Runner-inspired Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. 

Initially, the first-person viewpoint suggests a straightforward FPS, but it’s actually a deep and challenging role-playing game that boldly steps into the future, avoiding tired fantasy clichés. 

Your character – who can be male or female – is a hacker known as V, and you start the game by choosing one of three ‘lifepaths’ that fill in V’s background. You can assign experience points to attributes such as intelligence, reflexes, technical ability and ‘cool’, with each attribute giving you access to different skills that you can develop throughout the game. And, of course, there are plenty of body modifications and upgrades that you can collect along the way too. 

V is sent on a mission to steal a prototype chip called the Relic, but then ends up with the Relic implanted inside their own head. It turns out that the chip stores the digital personality of a dead anti-corporate rockstar called Johnny Silverhand (played by Keanu Reeves). Johnny soon starts to take over, forcing you to find a way to save your own personality before it is overwritten.

Night City provides a huge open world that you can explore. There’s a varied cast of characters that you can meet and plenty of jobs that you can pick up. There are few games on the Mac that create the same sense of freedom – you can spend hours exploring before tackling the main quest. 

The action can get pretty violent, and there’s lots of bad language too, so it isn’t for younger gamers.

The team at CD Projekt Red say that it will run on Macs with a basic M1 processor – but you’ll need macOS 15.5 and at least 16GB of memory (there’s no support for Intel Macs). There are presets that adjust graphics settings for different Mac models to get the best performance from the game.

Why we loved Assassin’s Creed, Shadows: Assassin’s Creed Shadows impressed us because it delivers a richly realized feudal-Japan setting, blending ninja-style stealth and samurai combat with satisfying variety and depth. Players can switch between two contrasting protagonists – a stealthy shinobi and a powerful samurai – giving the game flexibility and replay value. The open world and generous quests add to the sense of immersion and adventure.

Shadows is the first game in the long-running Assassin’s Creed series that has been released on the Mac. It’s set in Japan during a civil war in 1579 as the warlord Oda Nobunaga attempts to conquer and forcibly unite the country’s warring factions.

You to play as two separate characters, each with their own different skills and fighting styles. Naoe is a shinobi (ninja) who specialises in stealth and agility. Yasuke, a samurai who can block and parry his foes’ attacks. It’s pretty violent but you can tone down the settings for blood and dismemberment if you want. This one isn’t for kids.

The game does take a little while to get going, as it effectively has two introductions to allow you to get some practice with the different fighting styles of Naoe and Yasuke. Things soon pick up, though.

Shadows provides plenty of quests and combat to keep you busy. For the most part, it’s all about the wall-to-wall combat, with lots of sneaking and parkour-style running and jumping to add variety. There are four difficulty settings available – which will be helpful for Mac users who haven’t played any of the Assassin’s Creed games before.

What most impressed me were the game’s 3D graphics. The early cut-scenes were very impressive, with some of the most detailed and photo-realistic effects that I’ve ever seen on a Mac. With many games, though, and when the cut-scenes finish you find that the actual in-game action tends to offer a lower level of visual detail, but, with Shadows, the game just continues smoothly at the end of these cut-scenes and maintains the excellent visual quality throughout the game.

Why we loved Hollow Knight, Silksong: Hollow Knight: Silksong won us over with its gorgeous hand-drawn art, fluid combat, and atmospheric world that runs smoothly even on modest Macs. It brings back the tight platform-action and exploration that made its predecessor a cult classic – but sharper and more ambitious.

The game feels like a polished, meaningful evolution: faster and more agile hero, deeper environments, memorable bosses — a worthy sequel that still respects the original vibe.

Silksong works on both Intel Macs and Apple Silicon. The game’s 2D graphics run smoothly on older Macs, including my five-year-old Intel iMac at 4K resolution. 

Hollow Knight, developed by a modest three-man team in Adelaide, was a huge hit and sold millions of copies. The sequel has built up significant anticipation, but Team Cherry took their time to ensure Silksong lived up to its award-winning predecessor.

Silksong follows Hornet, a princess from the last game, as she escapes from a new kingdom called Pharloom. Despite sharing the same distinctive hand-drawn graphics, animation, and Larkin’s soundtrack, the game introduces new mechanics. Hornet navigates a sideways-scrolling 2D platform game, using her needle and thread weapons to defeat over 200 enemies. As she explores Pharloom, she gains new weapons and abilities to tackle the game’s bosses.

While I’m not skilled at platform games, I found the jumping mechanics in Silksong more forgiving than in Hollow Knight. Sometimes, Hornet could grab a ledge and escape danger if I missed a jump.

That said, Silkong is more challenging than its predecessors, with varied movement and powerful bosses.

Silksong’s opening screen suggests using a game controller, which I prefer with a keyboard and mouse. However, I struggled to adjust the keyboard controls to make Hornet move quickly. The Save system is also frustrating, only allowing saves at specific points like benches, forcing repeated retracing of steps to overcome obstacles or enemies.

While platform games can be frustrating, especially with restrictive Save systems, Silksong stands out for those who enjoy them. It’s one of the few games on the Mac that matches its challenge and style, making it a worthy successor to Hollow Knight.  

Silksong costs $19.99/£16.75 on Steam and Gog, and buying it once grants access to both PC and Mac versions. The first game is also on sale, making it an affordable introduction to the series.

Why we loved Control, Ultimate Edition: Control nails a creepy, surreal vibe. Its moody, inter-dimensional setting and uncanny architecture draw you in immediately. Combat mixes gunplay with psychic powers, letting you telekinetically fling debris or use a shape-shifting “Service Weapon,” keeping fights fresh and flexible. It’s also impressive technically: runs well on modern Macs (M1 or later), meaning you get immersive visuals and smooth performance without needing beefy hardware.

Control, a unique super-powered shoot-‘em-up action game with X-Files-inspired vibes, took a while to reach the Mac. It was worth the wait.

The game begins with Jesse Faden arriving at the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), a government agency investigating paranormal ‘Altered World Events’ (AWEs). Jesse’s younger brother vanished during an AWE, and she’s guided by a mysterious voice to the FBC.

The FBC office, known as the Oldest House, is eerily quiet when Jesse arrives, with only a creepy janitor providing directions to the Director’s office. This opening section serves as a tutorial, introducing the main controls and setting the story. Jesse engages in dialogue with her inner voice as she explores the FBC.

Upon finding the Director’s office, she discovers he’s dead, having killed himself with his hand gun. This ordinary gun, the Service Weapon, whispers instructions to Jesse, recruiting her into the FBC and assigning missions.

Jesse’s first mission reveals the Oldest House’s connection to another dimension, where she encounters alien figures and experiences combat. The Service Weapon can magically reload, which is helpful since Jesse struggles with shoot-em-up games. She also discovers she has psychic powers, starting with a psychokinetic punch that knocks back enemies. This complements her shooting skills, allowing her to approach enemies and defeat them before shooting. As the game progresses, Jesse enhances her psychokinetic powers, learning to hurl objects and upgrading weapons.

The game does have some flaws. The auto-save feature is irritating, as it only saves at specific points, forcing players to replay sections repeatedly. 

Control requires an M1 processor or later running Sonoma or later, it’s playable on a MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro at 34 frames per second with Medium graphics settings at 2560×1440 resolution. Lowering the resolution and graphics settings can improve performance even with an M1.

The game’s combination of shooter action and psychic powers ensures fun and varied combat, even for those with limited shooting skills. It’s a good choice for those who enjoy challenging and atmospheric action games.

Why we loved Resident Evil 3: Because Resident Evil 3 on Mac delivers solid, classic survival-horror fun — the zombie-slaying remains tense, and the inclusion of Nemesis as a relentless pursuer shakes up the usual formula. The game runs smoothly even on modest Macs (M1 or newer), making it accessible without high-end hardware. It’s a good (and affordable) entry point for newcomers to the series, with a free demo letting you try before you buy.

Capcom is putting in a lot of effort to release Mac versions of its games, especially the Resident Evil series, and as of spring 2025 it’s added a Mac version of Resident Evil 3, a remake of the original game from 1999.

You play as Jill Valentine, a special agent sent to Racoon City to investigate the outbreak of the ‘zombie virus’ that first appeared in Resident Evil 2. Jill and her fellow agents suspect Umbrella, a pharmaceutical corporation that developed the T-Virus, the biological weapon behind the outbreak. In most Resident Evil games, you fight zombies, but Resident Evil 3 introduces Nemesis, an intelligent super-zombie that is hunting you down. 

As the hunted instead of the hunter, instead of blasting zombies, you’re on the defensive, constantly pursued by Nemesis as you escape Racoon City. This offers a welcome respite from the usual offensive gameplay in the franchise.

The game doesn’t require a high-end Mac to handle its 3D graphics, but it only runs on Macs with Apple Silicon, not Intel. So that’s an M1 processor or later and macOS 13.0 or later. We tested it on a MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro chip and it ran smoothly, even with hordes of zombies. You can download a demo to see how it runs on your Mac before buying the full version. 

The Mac version also runs on iPhone 15 or later and iPads with an A17 or M-series processor, so you can play it on your mobile devices too.

The Mac version of Resident Evil 3 is currently only available on the Mac App Store. 

Why we loved Civilization VII: Civilization VII impressed us because it refreshes the classic strategy formula with bold new ideas – letting you mix-and-match leaders and civilizations, and splitting history into three manageable Ages (Antiquity, Exploration, Modern). Its detailed 3D visuals run smoothly on modern Macs, making empire-building both beautiful and accessible.

There are changes to the latest game in the long-running Civilization series that are a good way of making the game more accessible for newcomers, though veteran Civ players may feel the new approach is dumbing the game down somewhat.

As usual, you choose a leader and a civilization that you control and develop throughout the ages and your aim is either conquering rival civilizations, or emerging as a world leader through economic, scientific or cultural dominance. But, in Civilization 7, your leader and your society are entirely separate, so you can mix-and-match leaders and countries in historically inaccurate ways. We had Catherine The Great Of Russia leading the armies of ancient Rome rather than 18th century Russia.

Once you’ve chosen your leader and their civilization you start in any of three different Ages – Antiquity, Exploration, or the Modern Age. You follow four different ‘paths’ that lead to success – economic, cultural, scientific, or military. Focus on one path or diversify and explore the benefits of each. Your leader remains the same as you progress through all three ages, but you get to choose a new civilization each time.

Dividing the game into ages like this does make it more approachable, as it splits the game into manageable sections. However, some players may miss the military and political intrigue of previous games.

One criticism that has emerged loud and clear across the board is that the game’s user interface is poorly designed, with unhelpful menus and tool-tips that make it difficult to find the information you need. We found it annoying that the game was constantly badgering us to create an online account in order to use the online multiplayer mode and unlock other bonuses. The developers have announced that they’re working on fine-tuning the interface in response.

Civilization 7 runs natively on Apple Silicon – but not on Intel Macs. It lists Sequoia as the minimum required version of macOS, although we ran it in Sonoma without issue. Performance is good, despite the game’s detailed 3D graphics. The game has a built-in benchmarking tool, and my MacBook’s M2 Pro chip was able to cruise along at a comfortable 55fps using High graphics settings when set at 2,560×1,440 resolution.

Why we loved Hades II: Hades II impressed us because it delivers addictive, fast-paced roguelike action powered by tight combat, a huge variety of weapons/boons, and beautiful art, sound and world design. It’s a worthy follow-up to the original, with deeper mythological storytelling and endlessly replayable runs – making each descent into the underworld feel fresh and rewarding.

Hades II (Early Access) was released for Windows PCs in 2024, but at the end of 2024 an update added native support for Macs with Apple Silicon.

You play Zagreus’ (from the first game) sister, Melinoë, a sorceress with powerful magical abilities who attempts to find and defeat Chronos, the ancient god who was father of Hades and is now waging war on Olympus itself.

Like Hades, Hades 2 is a ‘roguelike’ game. Roguelike games don’t allow you save the game and reload when you die, so each death means that you have to start again. That can be frustrating, but you can find new weapons and learn new skills as you progress, as well as earning ‘boons’ from the gods that make you more powerful. You also get to keep your skills and upgrades even after you die, so each time you start again you’re a little bit more powerful. There’s a God Mode that gives you a power boost right from the start.

Hades 2 is in Early Access – and looks likely to remain that way for most of 2025 – but it’s pretty solid and stable. The hand-drawn graphics style looks great and the relatively simple 2D shaded graphics mean that you don’t need a particularly powerful Mac to run it (I was able to get 60fps using High graphics settings, even at 4K resolution using a MacBook Pro with M2 processor).

Roguelike games don’t suit everyone, but Hades 2 is a lot of fun and a worthy successor to the original Hades, and it’ll be nice treat for anyone that enjoys challenging arcade action.

Why we like Resident Evil 7, Biohazard: It brings atmospheric, first-person horror to Apple devices with impressive performance on M-series Macs, iPads, and even iPhone. Its low price and free demo make it easy to try, while the eerie found-footage storytelling, tense exploration, and Ethan Winters’ unsettling search through a swampy Louisiana mansion create a deeply immersive, terrifying experience that feels fresh for the series.

Resident Evil: Village arrived at the end of 2023, quickly followed by Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7 Biohazard in 2024. Biohazard requires a Mac with an M1 or later, running macOS 13.0 or later. Biohazard also runs on the iPad, as long as it has an M1 processor and iPadOS 17, and even the iPhone, with iOS 17 and an A17 processor.

It is cheaper than other games in the series, costing just $19.99/£15.99 on the Mac App Store. The game can be downloaded for free and run in demo mode, called ‘The Beginning Hour’, as an introduction to the main game. If you like the demo, you can buy the full game as an in-app purchase, and there’s an expansion pack available for another $19.99/£15.99.

The game introduces Ethan Winters (who also appeared in Village), who searches for his wife, Mia, who vanished mysteriously three years ago. He receives an email from Mia asking for his help and gives him an address in a swampy backwater town in Louisiana. The game switches to an isolated first-person view, making every shadowy corridor seem even more oppressive and creepy. The game also makes clever use of the found-footage genre of horror movies, with Ethan finding old VHS tapes around the house that help fill in some of the background. There’s also a time-travel effect, where you can take actions during video segments in the past that impact on the present.

Capcom recommends a game controller, but it’s possible to play with a keyboard and mouse if you prefer.

Why we like Death Stranding: We like Death Stranding because it delivers a strikingly original, atmospheric experience unlike any other game on the Mac. Its cinematic world, haunting landscapes, and star-studded storytelling create a powerful sense of scale and mystery. Even though much of the gameplay centers on traversal, the challenge of navigating rugged terrain is surprisingly satisfying. Strong performance on Apple Silicon also shows real promise for future Mac gaming

Death Stranding, the idiosyncratic and sometimes downright bizarre game from Hideo Kojima, the renowned developer behind the long-running Metal Gear series, arrived on the Mac in 2024.

The game is set in a near-future version of the United States, in the aftermath of a mysterious apocalyptic event known as the Death Stranding, which has caused the collapse of society. All that’s left are a few scattered communities, which rely on ‘porters’ to deliver supplies and help set up a communications system called the Chiral network. That’s where you come in, playing Sam ‘Porter’ Bridges – who is voiced by, and modeled on the actor Norman Reedus of Walking Dead fame – as he trudges across the country delivering his supplies. Along the way, you’ll encounter terrorists and creepy invisible monsters called BTs (‘beached things’), but your real foe for much of the game is simply the environment around you.

There is some combat in Death Stranding, but your main task as a porter is to struggle across the rocky, ruinous countryside as you embark on a series of missions to deliver your cargo of medicines and other supplies. The game is sometimes described as a ‘walking simulator ’ as you spend much of your time clambering over rocks, up hills, or wading across rushing rivers and streams. That may not sound terribly exciting, but there’s a lot of satisfaction as you struggle to slowly inch your way towards the peak of a craggy hill with your cargo intact.

The game also has a dramatic cinematic flair – possibly a little too cinematic, as the first 45 minutes or so is really just a series of very long cut-scenes, interspersed only by a few brief sequences where you learn how to control Sam as he walks, jumps and wades across the rocky terrain. The long cut-scenes can try your patience in the early stages of the game, but they do look terrific – the landscapes have a cinematic scope, and the 3D graphics are tremendously detailed and realistic. And the feeling that this is the gaming equivalent of a blockbuster Hollywood production is further emphasized by cameos from a number of other Hollywood big names, including Mads Mikkelsen, Guillermo Del Toro, and Lindsay Wagner.

The graphics do require a bit of horsepower though. The game will only run on Macs and iPads that have an Apple Silicon processor (M1 or later), and running macOS 13.3 or iPadOS 17.0. We were pleased to find that the game ran well even on an iMac with an M1 processor, although we did have to lower the resolution to 1920×1080. You might need an M2 or M3 to really enjoy the game’s sweeping vistas and eerie special effects, but seeing a game like Death Stranding running on an M1 iMac gives us some hope for the future of games on the Mac.

Why we liked Frostpunk 2: We like Frostpunk 2 because it evolves its predecessor’s grim survival-city-builder premise into a larger, morally complex society-sim. As “Steward” of a harsh, frozen world, you must juggle food, fuel, factions and population growth – all while navigating brutal storms, political tension, and difficult laws.

When it launched a few years ago Frostpunk was a surprise hit. It tis a survival game based in an alternate 19th century world that has been plunged into a new ice age by a vast, global blizzard called the Great Frost. Frostpunk 2, which arrived at the end of 2024, is set 30 years after the original and you are tasked with finding new sources of food and fuel for the growing population and dealing with threats like hunger, crime and factional rivalries. 

The new game has a prologue that introduces the story for new players, and also acts as a tutorial, in which you struggle through the icy ‘frostlands’ to reach a wrecked train and scavenge its resources.

The game also looks great, with dramatic and imposing 3D graphics that look like Blade Runner with added snow.

Frostpunk 2 is quite a challenging game, even for people who have played strategy games before. Basic tasks such as gathering resources can prove to be quite complex. Frostpunk 2 is a little more abstract than its predecessor, as you now need to step back and take more of an overview of the structure of this society. There are several difficulty levels, where you can adjust economic conditions, such as the scarcity of food and fuel. You can also modify the weather. 

The scale of New London and its complex society provides a rich tapestry for the story that unfolds under your stewardship. Once you’ve finished the main game there’s also an ‘endless’ Utopia mode that allows you to start a new city by choosing from a variety of locations, with different terrain and weather conditions.

Frostpunk 2 is available on both Steam and the Mac App Store, but the Steam version of the game is slightly cheaper.

Why we like Resident Evil 4: We like Resident Evil 4 because it delivers a polished, action-packed remake with impressive visuals, refined controls, and a reimagined story that feels fresh without losing what made the original great. The free opening section makes it easy to try, and performance on Apple Silicon is strong once settings are tuned. Its fast combat, memorable enemies, and cinematic pacing keep the adventure gripping from start to finish.

It can be a little tricky following the sequence of the Resident Evil games – especially as most of them have never been released on the Mac. 2022’s Resident Evil: Village was the eighth game in the long-running series, although it was the first ever to arrive on the Mac, and also one of the first games written specifically to run on Macs with Apple Silicon. However, Resident Evil 4, arriving in late December 2023, is actually a newer game (sort of) as it’s a remake of the original Resident Evil 4, which was first released back in 2005.

Being a newer game means that it’s considerably more expensive, though, weighing in at a rather hefty $59.99/£57.99. However, it works hard to earn its keep with “juiced-up visuals and a reimagined story” as well as improved controls for combat and other character actions. And, thankfully, you can actually download the game for free and play through the opening section, before deciding if you want to go ahead and buy the full version of the game as an in-app purchase (along with some rather pricey DLC packs too).

This installment follows the adventures of special agent Leon S. Kennedy – a floppy-haired special agent from an earlier game in the series – who has now been recruited to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the US President. Tracking her down to a village in Spain, Leon encounters a spooky cult called Los Iluminados, who have turned the villagers into crazed killers. You have to fight your way past the villagers and confront various bosses as you track down the President’s daughter and attempt to uncover the cult’s true plans.

Resident Evil 4 has some good jump scares along the way, but it’s more action-oriented than Village and doesn’t have quite the same creepy and tense atmospherics. It certainly keeps you busy, though, as you shoot and slice your way through the villagers, and encounter the mysterious figures who control the cult. And, of course, it’s pretty gorey too, with a 17+ age rating.

Like Resident Evil: Village, this game runs on Macs with Apple Silicon, and it ran pretty well even on a 24-inch iMac with a basic M1 processor. It felt a little sluggish initially, but seemed to run quite smoothly once we turned the resolution down to 1,920 x 1,080, and experimented with some of the graphics settings (the game will also run on iPads with Apple Silicon, and even on the iPhone 15 Pro as well).

Why we liked Prince Of Persia, The Lost Crown: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown revives the classic series with stylish 2D-Metroidvania action: fluid, acrobatic platforming, strategic combat and challenging boss fights. Plus, its sprawling, mythical Persian world is packed with secrets, puzzles, and vivid environments.

The Lost Crown was released for Windows PCs at the start of 2024, but it took until December for it to appear on the Mac App Store where it’s working its way up Apple’s games chart.

The Lost Crown is a side-scrolling game that combines combat and platform-jumping elements. It’s presented like an old-school 2D platform game where you mostly run left or right across the screen and use the Space bar to jump over obstacles. The game looks great with detailed backgrounds that create a real sense of atmosphere

You play a young warrior called Sargon, who is a member of a group that modestly call themselves The Immortals. The kingdom of Persia is under attack from an enemy army, and Prince Ghassan has been taken captive and imprisoned on the magical Mount Qaf. Sargon and his associates head off to rescue the Prince, but soon discover that Mount Qaf is full of mystical enemies, puzzles and obstacles that have to be overcome.

The game requires an M1 processor or later (so it won’t run on Intel Macs). However, the 2D presentation means that it doesn’t need a powerful Mac, and we had no trouble running it with high graphics settings at 4K resolution on a MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro chip.

We love the Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077, which arrived early in 2025 (see above). The same Polish developer has also been updating some of its older games for the Mac as well, including the classic Witcher and Witcher 2, which arrived in 2024.

The first two games in The Witcher series were released for Intel-based Macs back in 2008 and 2011 respectively, but they were among many games that were left behind with the introduction of macOS Catalina in 2019 (seriously, Catalina had the same effect on Mac games as the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs back in the pre-historic days). More recently, though, both games have received updates that provide up-to-date support for Apple Silicon – although they do require macOS 11 or later for both Apple Silicon and Intel processors.

Both games are classics of the RPG genre, casting you in the role of Geralt Of Rivia, a ‘Witcher’ – or monster hunter – who uses a variety of weapons, magical spells and potions to tackle his supernatural foes. The first game hurled Geralt into a war between rival factions seeking power in Temeria, while the second game saw him framed for the murder of the King of Temeria. It might sound like standard fantasy role-playing stuff, but the great strength of the games is their rich and exciting story-telling – based, of course, on the novels of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski – which brings the world of Temeria vividly to life, and presents Geralt with complex moral decisions that genuinely affect the outcome of the games.

Sadly, The Witcher 3 was never released for the Mac, but The Witcher and Witcher 2 should provide enough role-playing goodness to keep you busy until Cyberpunk 2077 comes along. And, as they’re both quite old games, they’re relatively cheap these days too, with the updated The Witcher: Enhanced Edition costing £6.99/$9.99 on Steam and Gog, while The Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition is $19.99/£14.99. Both games are available on the Mac App Store too but, as is so often the case, the Mac App Store is over-priced, charging $19.99/£19.99 for each game.

After a fairly epic detour into the fantasy worlds of Warhammer, the Total War series is back on its home turf once more, returning to the more traditional historical settings that the games have explored in the past. This time it’s ancient Egypt for Total War: Pharaoh, set in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze Age, and covering the lands of Egypt itself, as well as neighboring Canaan and the Hittite Empire.

There are eight factions spread across these three lands, all competing to take the throne of Egypt and become the next Pharoah (with additional factions available to purchase as DLC on Steam). Each faction has its own leader, with their own individual strengths and abilities, such as the reckless young warrior Ramesses (who has a tendency to “put the chariot before the horses”), and the cunning Tausret, who uses diplomacy and finance to pull the levers of power. If you’re new to the game then there are several tutorials available that introduce the basics of battle, as well as more advanced tactics, such as siege warfare, and learning how to use the land and weather to your advantage.

Pharoah might not have the otherworldly spectacle of the Warhammer games, but it still looks great, with spectacular vistas as the rival armies charge across the desert dunes. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t run on older Macs that have Intel processors, but it ran quite smoothly on an iMac with a basic M1 processor when set to 1920×1080 resolution (and using the new gaming mode in macOS Sonoma).

The main single-player campaign should keep you busy for quite a while, and as well as creating custom battles to hone your skills you can also customize the main campaign, adjusting the troops, resources and money that are available to make the game more challenging. It’s a shame, though, that the game’s multiplayer mode only allows you to play with other Mac users, as this means that – without being able to play against PC users – you’ll have a fairly limited choice of online opponents.

Dredge was first released for Windows PCs back in 2023, but the developers at Black Salt Games have launched a Mac version, along with mobile versions for iOS and Android. At first glance, Dredge looks like a quiet, cosy game where you spend your daylight hours calmly fishing the seas around the island of Greater Marrow, occasionally delivering items to people on neighbouring islands, and trying to drum up enough cash to upgrade your fishing boat and equipment. The game’s simple shaded graphics remind me of Monument Valley, and its soothing soundtrack – complete with the sound of lapping waves – almost makes you drift off to sleep.

But you soon detect hints of something strange lurking beneath the surface. You start to find mysterious messages floating in bottles out at sea, and the local Mayor repeatedly warns you to get back to the dock before it gets dark at night. A few days of fishing and delivering parcels helps ease you into the game, and then you’re approached by a mysterious figure called the Collector, who asks you to find a number of items that were lost in shipwrecks around the islands.

This can be a challenge as you need quick reflexes to control the tension in your fishing gear and bring these items to the surface (and a game controller might be a better option here than using a keyboard). It takes time too, and I soon found myself hurrying back to Greater Marrow in the dark one night, only to be attacked by a great undersea creature that wrecked my boat and returned me to my last saved game.

Things just get creepier from there as you start to uncover the mystery behind all these lost ships, and the full game will keep you busy for 10-12 hours, depending on how much time you spend fishing, treasure-hunting and completing side quests. Admittedly, the excitement in Dredge is doled out sparingly, so it’s not a game for action fans, but the balance between the calm daylight hours and the menace that lurks in the dark creates an oddly soothing rhythm that will appeal to fans of more peaceful gaming pursuits (one review on Steam called it “Animal Crossing meets Lovecraft”).

Figuring out where to buy the game can be a little tricky, though. It’s already available on most of the main game stores, including Steam, Epic and Gog with the standard version of the game costing $24.99/£21.99 (with additional DLC bundles also available).

It’s not due for release on the Mac App Store until the end of February 2025, but the developers say that buying the Mac version will also give you access to the mobile version for the iPhone and iPad as well. The Mac App Store also provides a trial version that lets you play the first section of the game before buying. The developers do recommend a Mac with Apple Silicon, but the game ran on my aging Intel-based iMac with no trouble at all.

The original Baldur’s Gate games were classics of the RPG genre when the series was launched almost 25 years ago, but their 2D graphics haven’t aged well, despite an HD update in 2012. However, the forthcoming Baldur’s Gate 3 brings the series well and truly up to date with slick 3D graphics and a vast adventure that looks set to match the epic scale of its predecessors.

It’s actually been available in ‘early access’ on Steam since 2020, but the game finally has a firm release date for August 2023 so you can now dive in and test drive the early chapters of the game to prepare yourself for the arrival of the full game in just a few months time. It’s not a true sequel as the story and the main characters are all new – set more than 100 years after BG2 – although it is still set in the famous Baldur’s Gate region from the popular Dungeons & Dragons table-top games (and – spoiler alert – some familiar faces do make a welcome reappearance).

Rather than the powerful, god-like being that you became in Baldur’s Gate II, the new game lets you start from scratch with an entirely new character, chosen from the traditional D&D selection of races and classes – humans, elves, dwarves, wizards, warriors and rogues – and you then awake to find yourself prisoner on a flying ship controlled by Mindflayers (a familiar villain from D&D lore). The ship is attacked by dragons, but you’re able to escape – only to find that a Mindflayer larva has been implanted inside your brain. So, along with other survivors from the crashed ship, you set out to try to find a cure and then quickly find yourself embroiled in a mysterious war between the Mindflayers and an assortment of enemy races – who won’t be fully revealed until the game’s launch in the summer.

The 3D graphics really bring the game to life as you and your companions wade into combat, but the spectacular visuals do need a fairly fast Mac in order to run properly. The developers says that the game will run on an Intel Mac with a quad-core CPU and an AMD graphics card, or on most Macs with M1 or M2 processors. However, we had to drop the resolution to just 1600×900 on our M1 iMac in order to get a playable 25fps, so an M1 Pro or higher might be better. Fortunately, the game’s turn-based combat doesn’t require lightning reflexes and high-speed action, so you can still get by with an M1 Mac if you need to.

The decision to opt for turn-based combat might worry old-timers – like yours truly – who remember the terrific real-time-with-pause system of the original games. But turn-based is the trend these days, and if my time in the early access game is anything to go by then you’ll find that the old Baldur’s Gate magic will soon tempt you in as you “gather your party before venturing forth” – just like the good old days!

There aren’t many survival games that have made it onto the Mac, so we were pleasantly surprised when developer Iron Gate announced a Mac version of its hugely successful Valheim. The PC game has been available in early access since 2021 – which means that you’re essentially paying to play a beta version of the game – but it’s received a series of updates over the last couple of years that add more and more features, and the game has now sold more than 10 million copies.

Valheim follows the standard format for the survival. genre. Rather than providing a central story or quest, it simply drops you into the world of Valheim, which is based on Norse mythology, and then just leaves you to get on with things and decide how you want to play. The world includes several different biomes–regions with different terrain and climate–including leafy forests, snowy mountains or the barren Ashlands that were added in a recent update. You’ll start in a fairly welcoming leafy glade, where you can gather food and materials for crafting and building yourself a home.

Many people seem quite happy to spend a lot of their time working on their homestead, hunting and crafting to make themselves comfortable in their new home (a bit like the Sims, except with Vikings and monsters). But, as you develop your crafting and building skills, you’ll need to wander a bit further afield and explore other biomes in order to find new materials and resources.

As you visit each biome you’ll encounter a variety of beasts and monsters, which will force you to craft more powerful weapons and hone your Viking fighting skills. Each biome also has its own boss monster that you have to defeat as well, with the ultimate goal–when the game eventually emerges from early access–of reaching Viking heaven in Valhalla.

It’s quite a challenging game, and the intentionally retro 3D graphics may not appeal to everyone, but many people are happy to spend months at a time just exploring, hunting and building their home in Valheim. If things get a bit tough then there’s a co-op mode available so that you can recruit up to nine friends to help you out, and the old-school graphics mean that the game runs well even on older Intel-based Macs (although Macs with Apple Silicon will need to be running macOS 14.0 or later). It’s available on both Steam and the Mac App Store.

Elder Scrolls Online is one of the few MMO games that is available on the Mac, and it celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 with the launch of a major update called Gold Road. The game has seen a lot of changes along the way – both to the game itself, and also to the Mac platform, following the transition to Apple Silicon.

The bad news is that developer Zenimax states that Apple Silicon “is not officially supported”. In fact, the game does run on Macs with Apple Silicon – thanks to Rosetta – although some users have reported poor performance even on high-end Mac models. However, I was able to get a perfectly playable 40fps when running the game at 2,560 x 1,440 resolution with high graphics settings on my MacBook Pro with M2 Pro, and 55fps on medium graphics. There’s no free trial available for Elder Scrolls Online, but the game does run free play events every few months that allow you to play free of charge for a couple of weeks, so keep an eye out for these events if you’d like to check the game out before buying.

One of the good things about Elder Scrolls Online is that – unlike MMO rivals such as World Of Warcraft – it doesn’t require a subscription to play. You do need to pay $19.99/£15.99 for the base game (until end of June 2024 this is $5.99 at Epic), or $49.99/£42.99 for the complete Gold Road Collection – which includes a whole decade’s worth of expansion packs – but after that you can play for as long as you want without having to pay a monthly subscription (although a subscription is available as an optional extra).

Even the base game is huge, with a vast continent full of snowy mountains, windswept deserts and murky marshes for you to explore. There are epic quests, a wide range of skills and abilities to master and, of course, there are the inevitable dungeons and quite a few dragons that you can face on your adventures as well. As always, the Gold Road expansion adds a new region for you to explore, and a major new storyline called The Return Of Ithelia. It also introduces a major new magic system to the game, called Scribing, which provides new skills and spells that can be customized so that you can create a unique set of skills that really allow you to play just the way that you want.

It’s over 12 years since we originally reviewed the Mac version of Diablo III, and it’s safe to say that a lot has changed since then. The game still runs on Macs, but the transition to Apple Silicon has meant that it relies on Rosetta to run on modern Macs, and umpteen new versions of the macOS have introduced a few bugs that are annoying even if they don’t completely break the game.

The developers at Blizzard announced an update that brings Diablo III right up to date for Mac users. As well as being compatible with the most recent versions of the macOS and ironing out those old bugs, Diablo III now runs natively on Macs with either Intel processors or Apple Silicon – and that’s quite surprising for a game that’s this old.

Season 30 was the end of the road for new game content, but Blizzard did introduce a number of new features that should help to keep diehard players interested. The new Solo Self Found mode (SSF) is a completely single-player mode that forces you to rely purely on weapons and items that you find on your own. A new feature called Visions Of Enmity opens portals to a series of mini-levels that are crammed full of monsters, but which provide a chest full of loot once you reach the final level. There’s also the Altar Of Rites, where you can sacrifice some of your hard-earned loot to gain a series of bonuses and buffs that will help you tackle the game’s many challenges in solo mode.

The 2.7.8 update also arrived at the same time as Season 33 of Diablo III, that revisits the Shades Of The Nephilim theme and allows you to summon clone versions of your character to help you in battle.

Unfortunately, Diablo IV, which was launched in 2023, still isn’t available for the Mac at all, but at least this revamp of Diablo III provides plenty of dungeon-crawling fun for Mac users. And, of course, there are options that may allow you to run Diablo IV as well, if you read our guide to the best virtual machine software for Macs.

Along with World Of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls Online – or ESO to its thousands of fans – is one of the few A-List MMO titles that still supports the Mac (sadly, we lost Guild Wars 2 a couple of years ago…). But, unlike WoW, you don’t need to pay a monthly subscription to play the game, which makes it great value for players who want to immerse themselves in hundreds of hours of quests and adventures in the game’s online world of Tamriel. Some people – i.e. me – also prefer its grittier graphical style to the Disney-esque cartoon graphics of WoW.

ESO keeps its fans coming back year after year by releasing regular expansions – which it refers to as Chapters, as each new chapter brings a new story and a new series of quests to the game, as well as opening up new zones for you to explore. The latest chapter is High Isle, which takes you to the homeland of the game’s Breton race, and throws you into a story of political intrigue involving High Isle’s rival factions and a mysterious organization known as the Ascendent Order. Other new features include a new deck-building card game that you can play to while away a few hours, and two new computer-controlled companions for players who prefer to go questing on their own. And, of course, there are plenty of new quests to complete and dungeons waiting to be plundered.

You can buy the base version of the game for $19.99/£15.99 (until end of June 2024 this is $5.99 at Epic), or buy the High Isle Collection, which includes High Isle and all the previous chapters for $49.99/£42.99. Or, if you already own the game, you can just upgrade with High Isle on its own for $29.99/£24.99. Once you’ve bought the game you can play for as long as you want without paying a monthly subscription, and there are enough dungeons and quests already available to keep you busy for years. However, you can pay for an optional subscription if you want ($14.99/£8.99), which provides bonuses such as a larger inventory for storing all your gear and some extra gold coins to spend in the game’s online store.

The Mac version of ESO did have a wobbly patch, around the time of Catalina, but it now runs well on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and we were able to get a playable 30fps from the game at 1920×1080 resolution even on a basic M1 processor on our 24-inch iMac.

The Resident Evil games are the sort of A-List titles that rarely come to the Mac, so the announcement at 2022’s WWDC that Resident Evil: Village would be released on the Mac at the end of the year was big news for Mac gamers. The game doesn’t disappoint either, providing a series of creepy locations for you to explore, and a variety of supernatural menaces to fight against.

Mac users, of course, will be new to the games, but Village starts off with a brief recap of the previous game to bring us up to date. Three years ago – in Resident Evil 7 – Ethan Winters and his wife, Mia, were trapped by the Baker family in Louisiana, who had been infected – and mutated – by a mysterious black mold. They managed to escape, assisted by para-military operative Chris Redfield, and then three years pass by before things start to get weird all over again. Ethan and Mia are now living peacefully, along with their young daughter, Rose, until Redfield suddenly reappears, gunning Mia down in cold blood and kidnapping Rose. So, playing as Ethan, you now have to pick up the trail and try to figure out what is going on.

It’s a frustrating game to get into at first, as the early stages of the game simply involve stumbling around a dark forest, liberally scattered with dead animals. Eventually, though, you discover the Village of the title, which is under siege by wolf-like Lycans, and find clues that suggest your daughter is being held in the conveniently creepy nearby castle. The pace barely lets up after that, with the game combining atmospheric horror and manic combat in equal measure (not to mention enough gore and bad language to merit a 17 age rating).

Apple used the game at WWDC to demonstrate the graphical performance of its new M2 chips – but the good news is that we found the game runs pretty well even on a 24-inch iMac with the older M1 chip. The bad news is that (a) it doesn’t run on Intel Macs at all, and (b) you’re paying extra for the Mac version, which costs $39.99/£34.99 on the Mac App Store, while the Windows version – released in 2021 – is half that price on Steam. It’s still a great game, though, and hopefully it’s just the first of many A-List titles that we can look forward to on the Mac in the new couple of years.

World Of Warcraft has dominated the MMO genre for almost two decades now, and is one of the few A-list games to have staunchly supported the Mac throughout its history – in fact, it even provided an update that allowed the game to run on Apple Silicon Macs as early as November 2020. It’s had a few ups and downs in recent years – both in the real-world and in the game’s virtual world of Azeroth – but the release of the Dragonflight expansion at the end of 2022 was a welcome return to form, providing some important new features and also updating some of the more dated aspects of the game.

Dragonflight costs $49.99/£39.99, and is required in order to enjoy new features such as raising your characters to the new maximum of Level 70. It also gives you access to the Dragon Isles, which contain four major new zones for you to explore and go adventuring. The Dragon Isles are also home to a new playable race of ‘draconic humanoids’ called Dracthyrs, who can play as the new Evoker class, which has the ability to choose between either healing or combat abilities.

And, on entering the Dragon Isles, you can also obtain your own ‘drake’ – a flying dragon that allows you to learn a new set of ‘dragonriding’ skills that let you fly further, faster and higher as you explore the new zones. Throw in a more streamlined skill tree and a number of improvements to WoW’s aging interface, and the entire game feels more sprightly than it has done for several years. You don’t have to buy Dragonflight straight away though, as WoW still provides a free trial that takes you up to Level 20 for free, while owners of previous versions of the game can still continue to play – without the new Dragonflight features – by paying for a monthly subscription ($12.99/£9.99 per month, with discounts for three-month or six-month subscriptions).

Apple is trying very hard to encourage games developers to come back to the Mac, but – around 30 years ago – there was a time when big-names such as Bungie actually developed their games on the Mac first (until Bungie was taken over by Microsoft).

Before Bungie hit the big time with Halo, it made a name for itself with the Marathon series. The original Marathon games stopped running on the Mac long ago, but the entire Marathon series was recently revived with the help of an open-source programming team called Aleph One. The first Marathon game is now available on Steam as a free download – now called Classic Marathon – and it runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.

The game is a real blast of retro fun, set aboard a space ship called The Marathon, which has been boarded by alien invaders. Your task is pretty straightforward and mostly involves running along lots of corridors blasting the living daylights out of the aliens. Along the way, you can log in to computer terminals that provide access to the ship’s onboard AI, which points you toward your next target or sends you looking for useful information. There’s a plot twist, though, as there seem to be rival AIs at work, each with their own agenda, and this keeps you thinking about what comes next, as well as just exercising your trigger finger in combat.

The game’s old-school graphics obviously look a bit dated these days, but they have a lot of charm, and there’s a sense of satisfaction as you carefully attempt to pick off your enemies without wasting too much ammo – and a real sense of relief when you come across some spare ammo packs lying on the ground too.

The somewhat clumsy control system isn’t quite so charming – it took me some time reading around on the Internet to discover that there’s no Save Game command, so you just have to hope you can survive all the way to the next checkpoint, where your game is saved automatically. But that’s part of the fun, as it puts extra pressure on you to stay alive, and to keep searching for hidden areas that may reward you with extra ammo or weapons.

The two sequels – Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity – are also available, although you’ll need to download the open-source files from Aleph One’s own website, or wait for them to arrive on Steam for a more straightforward download and installation process.

Perhaps the biggest game release of 2022 on the Mac, Total War: Warhammer III provided a truly epic conclusion to this popular series of strategy games. There’s no need to worry if you haven’t played any of the earlier games, though, as this three-quel includes an optional prologue, called The Lost God, that can act as an introduction for people who are new to the world of Warhammer.

This prologue explains that the great Beard God, Ursun, who is worshipped by the human kingdom of Kislev has been imprisoned in the demonic Realms Of Chaos. In Ursun’s absence, a terrible winter has fallen over Kislev, so you start by playing Prince Barkov of Kislev, who leads a small band of warriors to discover the fate of Ursun. This section also acts as a tutorial for people who might be new to strategy games, and when you’re up to speed you can progress to the main campaign in which rival factions compete to reach Ursun and use his godly powers for their own ends.

As well the people of Kislev, you can command another human kingdom called Grand Cathay, or turn to the dark side by playing one of the many demonic princes who all have their own monstrous armies. There’s Nurgle, the Plague Lord, whose somewhat squishy troops spread disease and decay, along with Khorne, the Blood God, the hedonistic Slaanesh, and Tzeentch, the master of Chaos Magic. And, finally, there’s the uber Daemon Price, whose powers – and even body parts – can be customized so that you can create a playing style that’s all your own. You can also buy additional DLC packs that add new factions and races to the game. There’s also a free add-on called Immortal Empires, which brings together campaign maps, factions and battles from all three Warhammer games into one vast and endlessly replayable series of battles.

The good news is that the game will run on any Mac with an M1 or M2 processor – and we found that it ran at a smooth 30-40fps at 1920×1080 resolution even on a 24-inch iMac with a standard M1 processor. But while Intel Macs with AMD graphics may be able to run the game, there are a few technical glitches that can affect these Macs, so the game isn’t ‘officially supported’ on Intel Macs.

There aren’t a lot of sports games available on the Mac, but the Football Manager series is a longtime supporter, and we get the 2024 edition at the same time as the PC and console versions too. There’s also a new version of Football Manager 2024 Touch available for the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. And, somewhat confusingly, the App Store also has a separate version, called Football Manager Mobile, which is only available to Netflix subscribers.

One of the biggest changes is the arrival of the ‘J-League’, with 60 Japanese teams now added to the game, along with Japanese language support as well. There are also new playing modes, such as ‘Real World’ where players in your games move to new teams on the same dates as they do in real life.

Each new version of the game tends to bring graphical improvements, and FM24 provides smoother animations for players as they charge around the pitch, more realistic physics for ball movement, and enhanced lighting effects to create a greater sense of atmosphere. And, of course, there are the inevitable AI features, such as the introduction of ‘Intermediaries’ that you can hire to go out and hustle for the best prices when you’re thinking of selling some players. There are also new Set Piece Coaches, who can help you to choose the best players for events such as free-kicks and corners. However, you’re up against tougher AI managers on opposition teams too, as they can now make smarter decisions when purchasing players that suit their tactical style.

The game also follows recent trends in tactical play, such as the greater use of positional play, which allows players to switch positions when your team has possession. The sheer depth of all these tactical options means that Football Manager can be a bit daunting for more casual fans of the game, but there’s a demo version available on both Steam and Epic, so you can have a quick kick-about to see how you get on before buying the full game.

It’s been quite a while since any of the Grid games were released on the Mac and, in fact, the Windows version of Grid Legends was first launched back at the start of 2022. However, the Deluxe Edition that’s launched on the Mac App Store does include all the game’s recent DLC add-ons – listed at more than $60/£60 on Steam for the Windows version – so it’s great value for racing fans on the Mac.

You don’t have to be an ace F1 driver to play Grid Legends, though, as the game includes a variety of different modes that can appeal to casual players as well as experienced drivers who want a more demanding and realistic driving simulation. The game starts by throwing you into its Story mode, called Driven To Glory, which follows the Seneca Racing team as it tries to make its name in the new season. As well as following the action through a series of races, the Story mode is also presented as a kind of behind-the-scenes documentary, with video cut-scenes and interviews with some of the main drivers (including an appearance by the pre-Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa).

Story mode is a good way for beginners to get started, but more experienced drivers can jump straight ahead into the Career mode. This provides five difficulty levels, and allows you to work your way up from rookie to a seasoned pro driver. There are 10 different racing disciplines available, including Drift, Elimination and the arcade-action of Classic Car-nage, and the game lets you play on 24 different tracks in locations such as Brands Hatch, Barcelona Dubai and Miami.

As you progress through the season, you can unlock 120 different vehicles, with different handling properties to suit your driving style. There’s also a Garage mode where you can upgrade and fine-tune your car to suit different terrain and weather conditions. The game also includes a Race Creator mode, where you can design your own custom race events, using different tracks, vehicles and weather conditions. It’s a shame, though, that the Mac version of the game is single-player only, and doesn’t have the multiplayer mode that’s available on the PC version. The game also requires an Apple Silicon processor, and doesn’t run on older Intel Macs. However, it ran more than fast enough for my somewhat chaotic driving skills on an M1 iMac with medium graphics and 1600×900 resolution, so you don’t need a super-fast Mac to put your pedal to the metal.

There aren’t many ‘soulsborne’ games available on the Mac – so called because they follow the format of the popular Lost Souls and Bloodborne games available on PC and consoles – but Lies Of P arrived on the Mac App Store recently and immediately walked off with Apple’s award for Mac Game Of The Year.

The game is dedicated to Carlo Collodi, the author who created Pinocchio, and your main character is referred to as ‘the puppet of Gepetto’, so it’s clear who you’re supposed to be. This isn’t the cute Disney version of Pinocchio, though – for starters the little wooden boy has grown a bionic metal arm to give him some extra muscle, and one of your first tasks is to pick up a sword and choose a ‘path’ that determines your fighting style. The Path Of The Sweeper tends to focus on heavy, two-handed weapons, while the Path Of The Bastard lets you fight with lighter, faster weapons. Or, as a safe bet, you can choose the Path Of The Cricket, which combines elements of the other two fighting styles.

Your puppet boy wakes in the city of Krat, a kind of steam-punk dystopia that has been over-run by rampaging puppets who have turned against their human masters. Guided by a cricket called Gemini (because Disney owns the name ‘Jiminy Cricket’) you fight your way across the city to locate Gepetto and end the puppet revolt. Like all soulsborne games, Lies Of P is very challenging, with a wide range of combat moves and skills that you have to master as you fight your way across the city. And, as the name suggests, the game also allows you to choose between telling lies or the truth as you encounter other characters in the game. The developers recommend using a game controller, rather than mouse and keyboard, and the game only runs on Apple Silicon, with no support for older Intel Macs. An M2 is recommended, but we still found the game playable on an iMac with a basic M1 processor, when running on medium graphics settings at 1920×1080, so most recent Mac models should be able to handle the game without too much trouble.

The MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip is a highly capable machine for gaming, particularly for users who prioritize the Mac ecosystem but want enough “oomph” to handle demanding titles.

The Pro chips provide the required GPUs for those doing moderate to serious media production and gaming. We recommend increasing the RAM to 24GB or 32GB minimum. This memory overhead is increasingly important as modern games and AI-driven features demand more unified memory.

We love the M4 Pro Mac mini. It offers enough power to handle modern AAA titles at respectable settings at a low price.

Unfortunately the price isn’t as low as it was since Apple increased Mac prices in June 2026, and stocks are severely constrained as of summer 2026. But if you can get hold of one it’s a good option.

In real-world testing with demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, our Mac mini (configured with an M4 Pro chip, 48GB of RAM) could run the game at 1440p resolution with “High” settings at approximately 63 frames per second (fps).

One of the standout features of the Pro version of the Mac mini is its integration of Thunderbolt 5, which offers significantly higher bandwidth for external peripherals and high-refresh-rate displays. Additionally, the improved GPU processing speeds and AI capabilities of the Mac mini are becoming increasingly relevant for modern game rendering and frame interpolation.

While the high price of the MacBook Pro with M4 Max chip stops us from recommending it as a top choice, it is a very capable Mac for those who who want to prfioritize a professional workflow and have “oomph” for high-end gaming in their downtime.

The M4 Max features a significant number of GPU cores, which is the primary driver for its gaming performance . While the base M5 chip (released in late 2025) has shown impressive graphics jumps, the M4 Max remains a top-tier choice for those needing sustained power for demanding AAA titles.

There is also a 16-inch model which may be preferred for gaming due to its larger screen and superior battery life, rated for up to 24 hours.

Like the Mac mini the Mac Studio with the M4 Max chip is in short supply, but if you can get hold of one its a highly capable machine for gaming, though its value proposition depends heavily on whether you prioritize raw gaming performance or professional creative workflows. Despite not being updated to the M5 Max and M5 Ultra yet, it is considered one of Apple’s most powerful options for high-end gaming and professional workloads.

A high-end configuration can feature up to 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores, providing significant power for AAA titles. However, the M4 Max may be considered over powered. A M4 Pro would probably be sufficient.

Parallels Desktop is the best virtual machine for Mac users who need to run Windows, Linux or another copy of macOS alongside macOS. It creates a virtual PC on your Mac, allowing you to run Windows applications without rebooting or partitioning your drive.

One of Parallels’ biggest strengths is its seamless integration with macOS. You can keep Windows and macOS completely separate or use Coherence mode, which lets Windows apps run alongside Mac apps as if they were native. You can even pin Windows applications to the Dock, while shared folders, drag-and-drop and copy-and-paste make moving between the two operating systems effortless.

Installing Windows is equally straightforward. Parallels can download and install the ARM version of Windows 11 for Apple Silicon Macs, although you’ll still need to purchase a Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise licence. It also offers limited support for running older Intel (x86) versions of Windows on M-series Macs, but performance is slower and there are restrictions, including an 8GB memory limit and no sound support.

Performance is excellent on Apple Silicon, making Parallels ideal for productivity software, development, testing and many creative applications. Features such as snapshots, cloning and Rollback mode – which restores a virtual machine to its original state after a restart – are particularly useful for developers experimenting with new software.

Parallels receives regular updates alongside new macOS releases. The latest version supports macOS Tahoe and Windows 11 25H2, while recent releases have added AI-focused developer tools, including the Parallels AI Package for creating AI-ready virtual machines.

The main downside is cost. Parallels is subscription-based for most users, and Windows requires a separate licence. Virtual machines are also memory-intensive, so Macs with 16GB of RAM or more provide the best experience.

Combining outstanding performance, polished macOS integration and powerful developer features, Parallels Desktop remains the best virtualization software for most Mac users especially software developers.

For many years, VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop competed head-to-head as the leading virtualization software for Mac, with both companies regularly updating their software with new features and performance improvements. In recent years, however, VMware has slowed development, and Fusion no longer receives the same level of attention. In fact, the software has become surprisingly difficult to find on VMware’s website since Broadcom acquired the company.

Fusion 13, released in November 2022, added support for virtualization on Apple Silicon Macs, allowing M1 and M2 users to run the Arm version of Windows. Like Parallels Desktop, Apple Silicon Macs can only virtualize Windows on Arm rather than older Intel versions of Windows. VMware initially required users to source a Windows on Arm licence themselves—a frustrating process, as Microsoft didn’t make these licences readily available to consumers.

Subsequent updates addressed some of these shortcomings. Fusion 13.5, released in October 2023, introduced DirectX 11 support for improved graphics performance and added a Get Windows option that simplified downloading and installing Windows 11 on Arm. Version 13.6 followed in September 2024 with vmcli command-line support and compatibility with newer guest operating systems, although the pace of development still lagged behind Parallels.

One of Fusion’s biggest advantages is its price. VMware first introduced a free personal edition with Fusion Player in 2020, but it now offers the full-featured Fusion Pro free for personal, home and student use. After creating a VMware account, users can download the software without paying a licence fee, making it one of the best-value virtualization solutions available.

Like Parallels, Fusion creates a virtual machine that lets you run Windows, Linux and other operating systems alongside macOS without rebooting. It supports Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, allows users to customise CPU and memory allocation, create snapshots, drag and drop files between operating systems and accelerate graphics using DirectX 11.

However, Fusion no longer matches Parallels for ease of use. Downloading the software still involves navigating Broadcom’s confusing website, and while the Get Windows feature has simplified installation, the overall setup process remains more technical than Parallels. Fusion has also dropped its Unity mode, which previously integrated Windows applications directly into the macOS desktop, and it still lacks DirectX 12 support, limiting compatibility with many modern games.

Although VMware Fusion has fallen behind its main rival in polish and new features, its strong performance and free personal licence make it an excellent choice for developers, IT professionals, students and home users who occasionally need to run Windows on a Mac. Users looking for the smoothest, most beginner-friendly experience, however, will still find Parallels Desktop the better all-round option.

You’ll need to register for a VMware account, but Fusion Pro is free to download here.

UTM Virtual Machines from Turing Software is currently sitting at no.1 on the Business section of the Mac App Store. It costs $9.99/£9.99 on the Mac App Store, but, because UTM is an open-source project, there’s also a free version–simply called UTM–available on the Turing website.

UTM can run on Macs with either Intel or Apple Silicon processors (running macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later). It provides two different options depending on the type of Mac you’re using–virtualization and emulation.

So, if you have an Intel Mac, UTM can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs the Intel version of Windows. And, if you have a Mac with Apple Silicon you can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs Windows On Arm. But, if you want to run the older Intel version of Windows on a Mac with Apple Silicon, then UTM will use emulation in order to run Window since that version isn’t designed for the Mac processors. Virtualization provides better performance, but emulation is useful if you need to run Windows apps or software that require a specific version of Windows.

Having those two options available within UTM makes it a more versatile than Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, which focus on virtualization rather than emulation. However, this adds complexity to UTM, and the app lacks the polished interface and ease of use of Parallels and VMware. You’ll need a basic understanding of Windows disk image files, such as ISO and VHDX, in order to download and install your copy of Windows. Don’t expect the level of step-by-step help available in Parallels Desktop.

Performance is good, though. The one weakness is that UTM doesn’t currently support 3D graphics acceleration on its Windows virtual machines, which means that you won’t be able to play most Windows games that have 3D graphics. But if you just want to run business apps or check out the new AI features in Windows, then UTM is a good, low-cost option that will appeal to developers and technical users.

CrossOver is one of the easiest ways to run Windows software on a Mac without buying or installing Windows itself. Built on the open-source WINE compatibility layer, it translates Windows API calls into macOS equivalents, allowing many Windows apps and games to run natively rather than through a virtual machine.

Unlike Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, CrossOver doesn’t require a Windows licence, making it a lighter and more affordable option. CodeWeavers has also added a polished interface, technical support and installation tools that make it far easier to use than WINE itself.

CrossOver’s biggest strength is gaming. Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit is based on CodeWeavers technology, and regular updates continue to improve compatibility with popular titles. Recent releases have added or enhanced support for games including Diablo IV, Path of Exile 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, The Outer Worlds 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It also handles many productivity applications and older Windows programs surprisingly well.

Compatibility is still its biggest limitation. Some applications work flawlessly, others have minor glitches, and some won’t run at all. Fortunately, CodeWeavers provides an online compatibility database, and the generous 14-day free trial lets you test your essential software before buying.

Performance on Apple Silicon Macs remains good despite the current version relying on Apple’s Rosetta translation layer. That should improve significantly with CrossOver 27, expected in early 2027, which will run natively on Apple Silicon as Apple will retire Rosetta. The trade-off is that CrossOver 27 will drop support for Intel-based Macs, although existing users can continue using older versions.

CrossOver 26 and its subsequent 26.1 and 26.3 updates have focused on performance improvements, Wine 11.0, better graphics support through D3DMetal 3.0, interface refinements for macOS Tahoe, bug fixes and expanded game compatibility.

At $74/£60 for a one-year licence (or $494/£414 for a lifetime licence), CrossOver isn’t free, but it’s still considerably cheaper than buying Windows and virtualisation software.

CrossOver isn’t perfect, but if you want to run Windows software or games on a Mac without installing Windows, it’s one of the best and most convenient solutions available.

Windows 365 (which launched in July 2021) has the potential to really challenge traditional virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. However, at the moment, Windows 365 is still pretty expensive and is very much aimed at large corporate users, rather than the individuals and smaller businesses that tend to use Parallels and Fusion.

Microsoft describes Windows 365 as a Cloud PC, but its technical notes make it clear that Windows 365 is a form of virtual machine. The difference is that Parallels and Fusion create virtual machines that are stored locally on your Mac itself, and these virtual machines rely on your Mac’s own processor power, memory and storage to run Windows and Windows apps.

In contrast, Windows 365 creates a virtual machine that is stored up in the cloud, and runs on Microsoft’s own servers. The video image for the Windows desktop on your cloud PC is then streamed to your Mac – or any other device, such as an iPad or even another Windows PC – via your broadband connection.

This form of virtual machine can work well, as long as you have a fast enough – and always-on – Internet connection. But, as mentioned, Windows 365 is quite expensive, with prices ranging from $31/£26.40 to $66/£56.20 per month. That’s compared to $99.99/£89.99 for a full year for the home user version of Parallels Desktop, while Fusion even has a completely free version for home users and students.

Windows 365 certainly has appeal to larger businesses that want to provide a standardized cloud PC that their staff can connect to from any location that has an Internet connection – it’s ideal for hybrid working and the ‘new normal’. However, it’s too expensive for ordinary home users, students and smaller businesses, so existing users of Parallels and Fusion will probably want to stick with those apps for the time being.

Read more here: How to use Windows 365 on Mac, iPad and iPhone.

As we mentioned above, the third technology option – after Boot Camp and virtualization – is Wine, which allows you to run Windows apps without Windows itself.

Version 8 of Wine arrived at the end of January 2023, like version 7.5 of Wine, which arrived in March 2022, Wine still runs on M1 and M2 Macs via Rosetta 2. Wine 8 includes support for the latest versions of the Vulkan graphics engine and Microsoft Direct3D. It also adds support for the OCSP networking protocol.

If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands a bit dirty, then Wine is an unusual but feasible option for running Windows software on your Mac.

Like VirtualBox, Wine is an open-source program that you can download for free. However, it doesn’t use conventional virtualization technology to create a virtual machine for installing Windows – in fact, Wine is the only program in this group that doesn’t even require a copy of Windows at all.

Instead, Wine acts as a kind of software middleman that translates the programming routines – called APIs – in Windows apps so that they can talk directly to macOS, without needing a full copy of Windows itself. And as you don’t need a lot of extra memory or processor power in order to run Windows, you may find that Wine can actually provide better performance than using a virtual machine (especially for games and graphics apps).

Wine also gets very regular updates from a team of dedicated developers who provide the software for free.

The downside is that Wine can be spectacularly confusing for beginners – to the point where we can only really recommend it to hobbyists who like a bit of a challenge.

CodeWeavers CrossOver for Mac is a little easier to use than Wine, despite being closely related to the software. But of course Wine is free, which is a big bonus.

This open-source virtualization program is free for personal use – but it’s more at home in a corporate environment.

VirtualBox is a bit of a mixed bag. Like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, it allows you to create a virtual machine that can run Windows and Windows apps from within macOS itself. You’ll need to purchase a Windows license for installation and a special version of Windows, Windows On ARM, for Apple Silicon Macs.

If you want it for personal or educational use then VirtualBox is free. The disadvantage of open-source software is that VirtualBox isn’t as polished or easy to use as Parallels or Fusion. As the program is free, you also don’t get any technical support and the 200-page manual is designed for IT managers and developers, making even simple tasks like changing the virtual machine window resolution baffling.

Luckily there is a busy user forum where you can ask a few questions when you need to. Which is a good thing because VirtualBox throws a lot of jargon at you and if you don’t know the difference between a virtual hard disk and a virtual machine disk then you might find it a bit tricky to get started.

Version 7.1 did introduce a new StartUp Wizard to simplify the setup process with separate ‘Basic’ and ‘Expert’ modes. However, this only partially addresses the program’s complex interface, and creating a Windows VM from a Windows 11 On ARM disk image on our M2 MacBook Pro took several attempts.

Version 7.1 also added support for Apple Silicon (aka M-series Macs). The support for Apple Silicon is limited though. VirtualBox can run Windows VMs in its own window or in ‘Seamless’ mode, where individual Windows apps run as native Mac apps. However, we found apps in Seamless mode sometimes move around on the screen, leaving odd graphical after-images. We also experienced occasional crashes when shutting down the Windows VM.

Oracle is really aiming VirtualBox at large corporations that have a proper IT department to help them out. However, business users do need to pay £49/$61 for the VirtualBox Enterprise edition, and you may need to commit to buying 100 licenses at a time, which pretty much rules it out for all but the largest businesses, or educational users who are prepared to tackle the free version.

Using dual-boot rather than virtualization technology, Boot Camp provides the best performance for Intel-based Macs that need to run Windows. (As we explained above, M1 or later Macs do not offer Boot Camp).

It’s important to make a distinction between Boot Camp and the virtualization programs that we look at here, such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. Instead of creating a virtual machine that allows you to run Mac and Windows apps together at the same time, Boot Camp is a dual-boot system that simply allows you to boot (start) your Mac using either the native macOS or Windows (but not both at the same time).

Thanks to Boot Camp your Mac can act as a straightforward Windows PC, and devote all its processor power and memory to running Windows and your Windows apps. And, crucially, if your Mac has a decent graphics card, it can use the full power of the graphics card to help run your Windows software. That’s definitely the best option for people who need to run high-end graphics software or 3D games, as you get much better performance than when running Windows in a virtual machine.

The disadvantage of using Boot Camp is that you lose access to all your Mac apps while you’re running Windows. If you use Apple Mail for your emails then you’ll need to shut down Windows and Boot Camp, and switch back to macOS every time you want to send or receive an email. And, if truth be told, the current version of BootCamp 6.1 isn’t quite as straightforward to set up as it used to be.

Previous versions of Boot Camp did all the work for you – they would partition your hard drive, install Windows from a normal installer disk, and also install any driver software that you needed so that components such as your graphics card, keyboard and mouse all worked properly within Windows.

Boot Camp 6.1.19 (as of August 2022) can only be used to install Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. Windows 11 requires the host computer to have a TPM (trusted platform module) which Macs don’t have (some VM solutions, such as Parallels, can allow Macs with a T2 chip to run Windows 11). Since not all Macs will work with all versions of Windows, so before you even start to run the Boot Camp Assistant you’ll need to check the compatibility tables on Apple’s website to see which version of Windows will work on your Mac.

You can’t install Windows from an old installer disk anymore either, so you’ll either have to download a disk image file for Windows – called an ISO file – from Microsoft’s own website, or use your Windows disk to create one. Boot Camp includes driver software for setting up Windows 8 and Windows 10, but if you’re a fan of Windows 7 (which some people prefer for gaming) then you’ll have to hunt around on Apple’s website for the drivers you need and make sure you follow the correct procedure when copying them on to your Boot Camp partition.

Still, if you persevere with all that, you will eventually have Windows running at full speed on your Mac, giving you access to a wide range of Windows software and games that require more power and speed than you can get from using virtual machine technology. Just as long as you don’t have an M1 Mac…